The decision on whether to extend the lifespan of Kori Unit 2, an aging nuclear power plant that has been in operation for the past 40 years, is expected to be made on this day.
Prior to this, on the 16th, the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee conducted a national audit of the Nuclear Safety Commission and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), and on the same day,
Related discussions may also be held during the Labor Relations Commission's energy sector work report and the national parliamentary audit of Han Hyu Nuclear Power by the Industry, Trade, Resources, Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Committee on the 20th.
Whatever the outcome, whether or not the lifespan of Kori Unit 2 can be extended will be a litmus test for the direction of the Lee Jae-myung administration's nuclear policy.
The nine aging nuclear power plants across the country (Hanbit Units 1 and 2 in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province; Kori Units 3 and 4 in Busan; Hanul Units 1 and 2 in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province; and Wolseong Units 2 and 3 in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province) are expected to be shut down.
This is also expected to affect the extension of the lifespan of the nuclear power plants (Unit 1 and Unit 4). The biggest issue is "safety." At a press conference on the 11th of last month, 100 days after taking office, President Lee Jae Myung said about nuclear power plants that have exceeded their operating period,
If safety can be ensured, we will extend the operation." On the 15th, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan visited Kori Unit 2 in Gijang County, Busan, and announced the status of the Han Hwa Nuclear Power Plant.
The nuclear safety management system was inspected. The problem is how to determine whether or not the "safety" has been ensured. Environmental groups have pointed out that the old system under the Lee Jae-myung administration
The government has criticized the extension of the lifespan of the No. 2 reactor as a "nuclear gamble" that risks the lives of 3.8 million residents of the Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang region. Meanwhile, the nuclear power industry has criticized it as an "ideologically biased anti-nuclear policy."
They are calling for an immediate extension of the plant's lifespan. So what do the citizens of Busan, who will be directly affected by the extension, think? Do they think nuclear power plants are safe? Kori Unit 2, which has been in operation for 40 years,
Do they think that the lifespan of nuclear power plants should be extended? Do they give them a passing grade in terms of safety, economic efficiency, and public acceptance? As the new administration's nuclear power policy is put to the test, the key issues are "safety and survival," "expansion of nuclear power plants and abandoning nuclear power plants," and "decline of nuclear power plants."
The divided public opinion on the issue of nuclear power plants was highlighted. Gilcheon Village in Gijang County, Busan. The village is located right in front of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant. Walking from Exit 1 of Wolnae Station to Gilcheon Village
"We strongly demand the construction of the latest small modular nuclear power plant (SMR) with improved safety!" "The future energy of the Gijang County people, let's join forces to attract a new SMR nuclear power plant." "A new nuclear power plant
Banners reading things like, "Attracting SMR reactors = jobs for young people + revitalizing the local economy!" are hung up all over the village. Beyond extending the lifespan of nuclear power plants, there are also calls for new construction.
According to residents, residents of Yoshikawa Village and other areas living within a 5km radius of KHNP and the Kori Nuclear Power Plant are currently discussing several nuclear power plant-related issues, including extending the lifespan of Kori Unit 2.
The main topics of discussion include extending the lifespan of Kori Units 2 to 4, installing an SMR on the site of Shin-Kori Units 7 and 8, building a new dry storage facility (temporary) on the site, and constructing a new nuclear power plant.
The village head of Yoshikawa village, Lee Hyun-chil (53 years old), said, "The will of the residents is in favor of both life extension and SMR.
"Whether it's a storage facility or a new nuclear power plant, we want it to proceed as quickly as possible," he said, adding, "The sooner the lifespan is extended, the better it will be for the government, KHNP, and residents, as it will increase the amount of support money available."
"If a nuclear power plant is shut down like the Kori No. 2 reactor, it actually incurs a significant loss," he said. Subsidies to areas surrounding nuclear power plants are linked to the power output.
Therefore, if the operation rate of nuclear power plants declines, the subsidy will also decrease. According to KHNP, areas within a 5km radius of nuclear power plants will receive "basic subsidies" from the "Electric Power Industry Infrastructure Fund (Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment)."
In addition, there is a "Business Support Fund" borne by KHNP, and a "Regional Resource Facility Tax" based on local taxes paid by KHNP.
As of 2020, a total of 250.3 billion won has been provided to areas around nuclear power plants nationwide, with more than 250 billion won provided in support funds annually.
In particular, residents tend to be sensitive to the decline in subsidies and the slump in the nuclear power industry. Busan is also facing a decline in population due to the concentration of people in the capital area.
The local economy is suffering from a slump. There are 28 partner companies related to the Furusato Nuclear Power Plant alone, and approximately 3,000 people are directly involved in the employment of the plant. One resident of Yoshikawa village said, "The elementary school and mansion near the plant are closed.
"Even businesses and self-employed people will be affected. If nuclear power plants disappear, it will be a major blow," he said. So, are there no concerns about safety? At the 22nd meeting of the Nuclear Safety Commission on the 25th of last month,
They discussed whether Kori Unit 2 is safe from natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy rains, and strong winds, as well as aircraft collisions. Mayor Kim said, "The Kori Nuclear Power Plant has never had a major accident, so it is actually safer now that it is shut down.
"I am worried," he said. "For the past 50 years, the Furusato Nuclear Power Plant has been right in front of my eyes every day. I have raised my son and daughter here in good health and have lived here without worrying about radiation.
Gijang is a clean area, with no one having died. Rather, I am worried that it has been left in its current state of not being operational. There are rumors of an airplane crash, but if war were to break out, the whole country would
It's dangerous. It's strange to think that only nuclear power plants are dangerous." In fact, when we spoke to residents living outside a 5km radius of the nuclear power plant in Gijang County, we found that there were relatively many voices of concern about the safety of nuclear power plants.
Kim Young-ho (49), who has run a taekwondo dojo in Gijang County for 20 years, said, "They may look fine now, but the effects of radiation exposure are serious for everyone, including children.
"It may be seen in future generations," he said, adding, "It is far too dangerous to extend the lifespan of an aging nuclear power plant that has already been in operation for more than 40 years in one of the world's most densely populated nuclear power plants.
He emphasized that "in order to shatter the myth that nuclear power is safe and face reality head-on, the current method of public hearings itself must be fundamentally reviewed."
Jeong Su-hee, an activist with the Busan Energy Justice Action, who has been active in Busan for many years, said, "The villagers have been forced to leave their homes many times due to the forced expropriation of land.
"We have even heard people say things like, 'We are demonstrating to get compensation money,' or 'We must endure for the sake of the national interest.'" He added, "The nuclear plant has deepened conflict among residents, and the sentiment of the local people has been torn apart for the first time in decades.
"It's cruel to ask people to endure this even after extending the lifespan of a system that has been breaking down for years," he said.
Park Kap-yeon (61), who has lived in Yoshikawa village for more than 20 years, said that to resolve the complicated intertwined issues, the government should take action and increase the residents' acceptance of nuclear power.
He emphasized that a thorough investigation into the extent to which this is the case is necessary. In an era of climate change, where concerns about natural disasters are growing and preparations for compound disasters are becoming increasingly important, and in an era of AI, where a stable supply of electricity is extremely important,
In order to steadily advance the country's energy policy in this day and age, it is first necessary for the country to take responsibility for creating policies that assess public acceptability.
2025/10/16 10:55 KST
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