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🇰🇷 South Korea /Energy & Infrastructure

Busan anti-nuclear groups protest SMR site selection

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Anti-nuclear groups in Busan are protesting the selection of a site in Gijang for a small modular reactor (SMR).
  • They argue the decision lacks transparency and disregards citizen safety and rights.
  • The groups are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the SMR site selection and a halt to the government's nuclear power expansion plans.

Anti-nuclear activists in Busan have strongly protested the recent selection of a site in Gijang for a small modular reactor (SMR), demanding the government immediately withdraw the decision. The group, known as the Nuclear-Free Busan Citizens' Federation, held a press conference at Busan City Hall on June 18, asserting that the selection process was conducted without transparent information disclosure or genuine public discussion.

The government has deprived citizens of their right to life and safety. The government should immediately withdraw the small modular reactor site selection that has deprived citizens of their right to life and safety.

— Nuclear-Free Busan Citizens' FederationStating their opposition to the SMR site selection during a press conference.

"The government has deprived citizens of their right to life and safety," the federation stated. They criticized Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) for allegedly concealing risks and procedural issues, relying solely on phone surveys for resident consent. The group dismissed the formal policy forums and opinion polls as lacking transparency, democracy, and public interest.

Local elected officials, including the mayor, district heads, and county chiefs, were urged to represent the survival rights of their constituents. The activists called on them to immediately declare the withdrawal of the SMR bid and strongly demand a complete halt to the government's plans. The federation vowed to fight for a future for Busan that is not a "swamp of nuclear addiction" or a "land of despair filled with nuclear waste," but one that moves towards a safe and just energy transition.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power concealed the risks and procedural problems that residents must endure and claimed to have received resident consent only through telephone surveys.

— Nuclear-Free Busan Citizens' FederationCriticizing the process used to gain resident approval for the SMR project.

This protest follows KHNP's New Nuclear Power Plant Site Selection Committee's decision on June 17. The committee selected Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province for two 1.4-gigawatt (GW) large reactors and Gijang County in Busan for one 0.7-GW SMR. The committee claimed the selections were based on evaluations of site suitability, environmental impact, construction feasibility, and resident acceptance.

We will do our best to fight so that the Busan we live in is not a swamp of nuclear addiction and a land of despair filled with nuclear waste, but moves toward a safe and just energy transition future where citizens are safe.

— Nuclear-Free Busan Citizens' FederationExpressing their commitment to opposing nuclear power expansion.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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