Gyeongju City Council Issues Statement from National Project Promotion and Nuclear Power Plant Special Committee

Call for Formalizing Support Measures for Existing Dry Storage Facilities
and Fulfilling Promised Support Fees for Radioactive Waste

On September 1, the Gyeongju City Council's National Project Promotion and Nuclear Power Plant Special Committee (Chairman Oh Sangdo) issued a joint statement in front of the main building of Gyeongju City Hall, together with the Gyeongju Citizens' Countermeasures Committee on Nuclear Power Plants and the East Gyeongju Development Council. The statement called for the formalization of support measures for existing dry storage facilities and the fulfillment of the promised support fees for intermediate- and low-level radioactive waste.

The statement pointed out that the recently enacted Special Act on High-Level Radioactive Waste does not include compensation measures for existing installed and operating dry storage facilities (canisters and MACSTORs) in the draft enforcement ordinance that has been announced for public review.

It also highlighted that, although an annual support fee of 8.5 billion won was promised at the time of the siting of the intermediate- and low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, in reality, only 1.6 billion won per year has been provided due to delays in the delivery of radioactive waste.

A citizen who attended the statement announcement said, "Our city of Gyeongju has borne a significant burden for the sake of national energy policy," and added, "If the sacrifices of Gyeongju citizens continue to be ignored and no proper compensation measures are put in place, we will take action, including blocking the delivery of radioactive waste."

Oh Sangdo, Chairman of the Gyeongju City Council's National Project Promotion and Nuclear Power Plant Special Committee, stated, "The government must formalize compensation measures for the currently installed dry storage facilities and, as previously promised, provide an annual support fund of 8.5 billion won for the delivery of radioactive waste." He added, "The Gyeongju City Council will actively work to ensure that the sacrifices and dedication of Gyeongju citizens are properly compensated."

Meanwhile, on September 3, around 1,000 residents of East Gyeongju are scheduled to hold a rally in front of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to demand compensation measures for existing dry storage facilities.

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