Nuclear Civic Group "Prosecutor General Choi Jae-hyung, Who Did Not Announce the Wolseong Unit 1 Audit, Reported to the Prosecutors"

Seven Civic Groups Including Nuclear Policy Alliance, KHNP Union, and Nuclear Plant Residents Announce
"Failure to Audit Wolseong Unit 1's Economic Feasibility Is Violation of National Assembly Act, Neglect of Duty, and Political Bargaining"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Seven civic groups related to nuclear power, including the Nuclear Policy Alliance, announced on the 1st that they will file a complaint with the prosecution against Choi Jae-hyung, the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI). This is because they judged that the BAI's failure to announce the audit results on the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) could be a violation of the National Assembly Act. These groups had previously warned that they would file a complaint if the audit results were not announced within last month.

On this day, seven civic groups including the Nuclear Policy Alliance, Nuclear Labor Solidarity, Facts and Science, Active Free Citizens, Citizens Together, Energy Promotion Group, along with the KHNP labor union and residents of nuclear power plant areas, announced that they plan to file a complaint against Director Choi on the 6th. At 11:30 a.m. on the same day, they will hold a press conference in front of the main gate of the BAI in Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. These groups stated, "We plan to hold a press conference at the BAI main gate in the second week of this month regarding Director Choi and then submit the complaint to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office."

Earlier, on the 20th of last month, these groups held a press conference in front of the BAI and said, "If the BAI delays announcing the audit results beyond March 31, we will file a complaint against Director Choi for violating the National Assembly Act and dereliction of duty." The BAI did not announce the economic feasibility audit results of Wolseong Unit 1 within the deadline they notified.

In response, the groups claimed, "This is not only a violation of the National Assembly Act but also dereliction of duty as national public officials," and argued, "Instead of being a force for the people, they have become servants of power, delaying the announcement of audit results unfavorable to the government and ruling party, effectively interfering in the general election."

They continued, "The BAI has reversed the Four Major Rivers Project four times to suit the regime's tastes," and raised their voices, saying, "Now, ahead of the general election, they are even interfering in the election by hiding the falsehoods of the nuclear phase-out policy."

The groups have argued that the BAI's failure to report the audit results of Wolseong Unit 1, which the National Assembly approved in September last year, to the National Assembly is a clear dereliction of duty. According to the law, the BAI must report the audit results to the National Assembly within three months from the date the audit request is received. If there are special reasons, the audit period can be extended within two months, and it was already extended once in December last year.

The legally mandated announcement deadline ended last month. Because of this, the groups criticize that the BAI, which is supposed to monitor the government, is instead watching the regime's mood. Director Choi said last month, "Compared to the audit items previously requested by the National Assembly, the content of the Wolseong Unit 1 audit is complex," and added, "I apologize for not meeting the audit period."

Meanwhile, on the 18th of last month, 225 professors belonging to the Professors' Council for Rationalization of Energy Policy (Egyopyeop) also issued a statement saying, "The BAI's failure to report the audit results to the National Assembly within the set deadline is a serious legal violation," and warned, "Director Choi could be subject to impeachment under Article 65 of the Constitution."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.