The Korean Nuclear Society has expressed its position on recent media reports that the Democratic Party of Korea plans to appoint anti-nuclear personnel, Yang I-won, as a member of the Nuclear Safety Commission.
According to the Korean Nuclear Society in a press release on the 4th, it stated that such a move does not align with the purpose of nuclear safety regulation, which aims to protect the health and environment of the people.
The Korean Nuclear Society has rebuked the reports that the Democratic Party of Korea is considering appointing former lawmaker Yang I-won as a successor to former committee member Ha Jeong-gu, who was recommended in 2021.
The Korean Nuclear Society emphasized that nuclear safety regulation and the anti-nuclear movement have fundamentally different premises. They stated that involving anti-nuclear personnel in regulation does not align with the purpose of safety regulation, as their bias could undermine the independence of nuclear safety regulation.
They further explained that nuclear safety commissioners should be appointed from individuals with expertise and experience in nuclear safety, which Yang I-won is deemed to lack. Appointing individuals with political bias, lack of independence, and expertise as commissioners is not beneficial for national safety.
The Korean Nuclear Society raised concerns about the influence of anti-nuclear activists on nuclear safety regulations, citing instances where excessive regulations have caused administrative burdens and public anxiety, leading to confusion and economic losses.
The society emphasized the importance of consensus between political parties in recommending nuclear safety commissioners to avoid turning the nuclear safety discussion into a political battleground.
Chairman Jung Beom-jin of the Korean Nuclear Society stated that the society opposes the recommendation of individuals who oppose the peaceful use of nuclear energy, lack independence, show political bias, or lack expertise as nuclear safety commissioners.