Professor Group Leading 'Anti-Nuclear Phase-Out Criticism'... Calls for Abolition Emerge Following Yoon's Election

Debate Over Abolition Arises Within AECKO... About 250 Professors Including Nuclear Experts Active
Yoon's 'Nuclear Strategist' Professor Joo Han-kyu Also a Member... Five Years of Strong Anti-Nuclear Criticism
Internal Opinions Divided... "Energy Policy Voices Must Continue in Next Government"

The country's first commercial nuclear power plant, Kori Unit 1. Permanently shut down in 2017.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] Within the professors' group that led criticism of the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy, the "Professors' Council for Rationalizing Energy Policy (Egyopyeop)," calls for its abolition have emerged. This is based on the judgment that the group has fulfilled its role as the nuclear phase-out policy is being scrapped following the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-youl administration in May this year. Some within the association also express the opinion that voices should continue to be raised for rational energy policy in the next government.

According to academia and industry on the 19th, at a recent meeting held by Egyopyeop, some professors argued that the organization should be disbanded. The professors advocating abolition believe that since the main goal of Egyopyeop?"the abolition of the nuclear phase-out policy"?has been achieved, there is no longer justification for the group's existence. An Egyopyeop official stated, "It is true that opinions for disbandment have recently emerged within the group," adding, "However, opinions among members are divided."

Egyopyeop is a professors' group that has strongly criticized the Moon administration's nuclear phase-out policy over the past five years. It was launched in 2018 when the nuclear phase-out momentum was accelerating, and until recently, about 250 members, including professors specializing in nuclear power and energy, have been active. The group is evaluated as having contributed to shaping domestic public opinion on nuclear power by consistently criticizing government energy policies.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, after declaring his candidacy for the 20th presidential election last July, sought advice from Professor Joo Han-kyu of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Seoul National University. Professor Joo was a leading critic of the nuclear phase-out policy.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

There have been cases where the opinions of Egyopyeop members were reflected in policy. Professor Joo Han-kyu of Seoul National University's Department of Nuclear Engineering, who led nuclear-related discussions within Egyopyeop, is a representative example. Professor Joo is one of the leading nuclear power experts in Korea and designed nuclear and energy policies for Yoon Seok-youl's presidential campaign. Shortly after declaring his candidacy last July, Yoon visited Professor Joo to seek advice.

This is why expectations for Egyopyeop's role in leading criticism of the nuclear phase-out policy in the next government have grown. This outlook is also the background for some members raising abolition arguments out of concern over the "politicization of Egyopyeop." There is criticism that if Egyopyeop actively contributes to specific government policies, it could take on a political color.

However, opposition to abolition is stronger within Egyopyeop. It is argued that the group's purpose lies in "rationalizing energy policy," not merely abolishing the nuclear phase-out. Accordingly, the committee members who are the core of Egyopyeop have reportedly tentatively concluded to postpone disbandment. Professor Lee Deok-hwan of Sogang University's Department of Chemistry, co-representative of Egyopyeop, stated, "The main purpose when forming Egyopyeop was to establish 'rational energy policy,'" adding, "The focus on criticizing nuclear phase-out was because it was an urgent issue at the time of the group's launch."

He also drew a line regarding political participation such as advising the transition committee on energy policy. Egyopyeop holds the position that activities by some members, including Professor Joo, are purely personal and unrelated to the organization. Professor Lee said, "There has been no consideration of political participation at the organizational level," and "There will be no cooperation with the transition committee or others in the name of Egyopyeop." He added, "If problems in energy policy are identified in the next government, we plan to raise critical voices."

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