Wolseong Nuclear Plant Avoids Shutdown... Reexamination Committee "81.4% Support Expansion" (Update)

Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant MACSTOR (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2 to 4 will be able to operate as scheduled even after March 2022. As the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, which generates 21.9% of the electricity for Daegu and Gyeongbuk, operates normally, concerns about the public burden due to power supply issues have somewhat eased.

At 10 a.m. on the 24th, the Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Policy Review Committee (Review Committee) announced the results of local opinion gathering regarding the expansion of the temporary spent nuclear fuel storage facility (MACSTOR) for Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2 to 4 at the Gampo-eup Welfare Center in Gampo-eup, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Representatives from the Review Committee and the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Regional Implementation Organization attended the site.

The Review Committee stated, "According to the survey results on whether to additionally construct MACSTOR among the citizen participation group (based on the 3rd survey), 81.4% were in favor, 11.0% opposed, and 7.6% were unsure."

The Review Committee explained, "Even when residents living within 5 km of the nuclear power plant in three towns and townships and residents in Gyeongju city were categorized by age, gender, occupation, education level, and income level, the approval rate was at least 65% or higher in all categories."

Since the orientation on the 27th of last month, the approval rate for additional MACSTOR construction increased as the three-week deliberation process progressed.

The approval rate, which was 58.6% at the first orientation on the 27th of last month, rose to 80% in the second survey on the 18th (start of the comprehensive discussion) and 81.4% in the third survey on the 19th (completion of the comprehensive discussion).

A Review Committee official explained, "Among the 48 people who responded 'unsure' in the first survey, 35 changed their response to 'in favor' in the third survey."

The Review Committee explained, "Through deliberative learning, residents' background knowledge related to nuclear power generation and their understanding of MACSTOR increased, as reflected in the higher correct answer rates on related questions."

For example, the correct answer rate for questions related to nuclear fuel increased from 60.7% in the first survey to 77.2% in the second survey and 84.8% in the third survey.

The correct answer rate for questions related to the temporary storage method also rose during the same period from 45.5% to 86.9% and remained at 86.9%.

According to the Review Committee, the citizen participation group responded that "overall, the deliberative learning and comprehensive discussion programs helped the public discussion process."

The Review Committee conveyed that "91% of the citizen participation group expressed satisfaction that this public discussion process was well conducted."

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