Ulsan, Newsis — On March 16, the Ulsan Ulju County office submitted a consent proposal to the county council for the voluntary attraction of a new nuclear power plant construction site, sparking strong opposition from anti-nuclear groups.
The Ulju County Council held its 244th temporary session and unanimously passed the proposal submitted by Ulju County. The submission, made on March 5, highlighted the necessity of the new plant in terms of contributing to national power supply stability, enhancing industrial competitiveness, promoting macroeconomic growth for the region, and preparing for public acceptance.
The proposed site for the new plant is within the Saeul Nuclear Power Plant complex in Seosaeng-myeon, leveraging existing infrastructure and transmission networks. Ahead of the council’s decision, the ‘Ulsan Pan-citizen Countermeasure Committee against New Nuclear Power Plants’ urged council members to vote down the proposal, arguing that it was unreasonable to build new plants while existing ones are aging.
Following the proposal’s approval, members of the committee protested loudly, condemning the council for ignoring public safety and making what they called uninformed decisions. In a press conference, they criticized the council for becoming a mere tool for the administration and for prioritizing political and financial gain over citizen safety.
Ulju County Mayor Lee Sun-gul responded to the backlash by explaining the rationale behind the new plant’s attraction. He stated that Seosaeng-myeon, with its extensive experience from hosting previous nuclear facilities, is well-suited for the new plant. He emphasized the importance of the region becoming a hub for the country’s energy mix strategy involving nuclear power, renewable energy, and hydrogen. He argued that stable power supplies require a reliable base power source, which a new plant could provide, especially as Ulju’s industrial structure transitions toward high-power industries.
Furthermore, Lee argued that the construction phase of the plant would boost the local economy by drawing in population and creating jobs. He also noted that funding for the plant could secure local financial resources and future investments.
On March 17, Ulju County plans to hold a ‘Relay March for Ulju County Residents to Support the Attraction of New Nuclear Plants,’ during which they will submit the attraction application and signatures to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.