Opposition to Construction of Nuclear Waste Storage Facilities

As Yeonggwang and Jindo in South Jeolla province and Gochang in North Jeolla province are declared as candidates for the filled-in and storage facilities for radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants (reported in A31 of the Dong-a Ilbo Oct. 19 edition), residents in these regions are protesting fiercely.

In addition, as local governments and local assemblies are joining the protest, a bumpy road is expected to the final selection.

A group of about 100 people, consisting of three committees against the declaration as places for nuclear waste storage facilities from each region and residents are expected to visit Korean Hydro and Nuclear Power Co.`s headquarters in Seoul and make a protest on Oct. 21. In particular, they are likely to request the company to abandon its plan to issue the report on the result of the examination involving the selection and its construction plan of nuclear waste storage facilities in the Jeolla provinces.

An alliance against construction of nuclear waste storage facilities in the Jeolla provinces, made up of 20 environment-related civic groups working in the Jeolla provinces including the Korea Federation for Environment Movement in Gwangju and South Jeolla province and three committees against those facilities in each candidate region, are scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss countermeasures. At the meeting, they will discuss the time schedule of the plans such as protest in Seoul, and large-scale mass rallies in each candidate region.

The Yeonggwang-gun assembly adopted a resolution, in which it said, “For the last 20 years since the nuclear power plant in Yeonggwang was put into commercial operation, residents’ complaints have increased. The selection of candidates for the facilities should be based on the result of research that everyone can understand.”

The Jindo-gun office and municipal assembly plan to issue a statement against its designation as a candidate for nuclear facilities following the petition of residents.

shjung@donga.com