Junk car shop owner advocates clean air

Juny Nam wears a mask during a protest at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul in March./Courtesy of the Hankyoreh

By Kim Se-jeong

Juny Nam, 51, is a junk car business owner.

His company “Goodbye Car” employees 33 people to disassemble vehicles in northern Gyeonggi Province ― 15 vehicles a day on average ― and sell car parts in and outside Korea.

But, he dreams of a day without cars as indicated in the name of his company.

“I am not talking about all types of cars. I hope cars with combustion engines will disappear. Then we will breathe better air and have lower greenhouse gas emissions.” Pollutants from combustion engines are blamed for air pollution.

That is what pushed him to activism.

He is currently a member of Korea Electric Vehicle Association, giving the government policy recommendations. He is also a member of the Green Party Korea and chaired the fine dust committee. From time to time, he protests the government’s insufficient measures against air pollution ― he did it in March at Gwangwhamun Square in Seoul.

He also wrote a book, “Goodbye Fine Dust.” Released in April, the book explained fine dust and laid out his recommendations for curbing the fine dust level. He also tours around the country in his spare time to talk about the book and the issue.

Nam believes the current regulations on diesel-run vehicles are too loose and incentives are inadequate. He calls on the government to start regulating all military vehicles.

His actions came at a cost at times.

“It was in 2005. When you recycled a car engine, you just let the refrigerant gas, which is one of the greenhouse gases, go into the air. I went around telling lawmakers and government officials that they had to collect the gas and make car companies pay for it. I was doing business with Hyundai Motors back then and I lost the contract,” he said.

He has many similar stories that put him in a dilemma.

What kept him going, though, was his two children.

“Imagine all these pollutants are accumulating inside their bodies. I need to do something as a father.”

His wife and children moved to Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province because of her work. “I didn’t like the idea of separation, but was relieved with the thought that they would have better air,” but now, he isn’t sure of that.

Another motivation for him is the desire to do the right thing. He doesn’t feel right being silent because he has to make money. “I want to do the right thing and make a good business. It’s not easy. I feel challenged every day. But, I have managed so far and will try to continue to do so.”