South Korea’s E-Waste Contaminates Soil

In 2025, an e-waste dismantling site on the outskirts of Seoul was exposed to illegal dumping of e-waste containing lead and mercury, leading to a 50-fold exceedance of heavy metal standards in the surrounding soil. The average blood lead concentration of local residents reached 15 micrograms per deciliter, far exceeding safety standards, and environmental organizations called for stronger regulation of cross-border e-waste.