Moon defends Shin-Kori reactor committee
By Kim Bo-eun
President Moon Jae-in defended Thursday a committee gathering public opinion on the construction of reactors 5 and 6 at the Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province.
“My original plan was to entirely scrap the construction,” Moon said at a press conference in Cheong Wa Dae marking 100 days since he took office. “But after considering the costs of halting construction, I decided the decision would be made based on public opinion.”
The initial plan to scrap the construction of the reactors was aligned with Moon’s vision to phase out nuclear energy in favor of safer renewable substitutes.
However, the plan met with a strong backlash from builders, as well as local residents, who had expected the project to revitalize the local economy.
Moon ordered a temporary suspension of the construction July 17, leaving the construction 29 percent complete. A committee collecting public opinion on the issue was launched July 24.
The nine-person committee, led by former Supreme Court Justice Kim Ji-hyung, will soon select 200 to 300 citizens who will reach a decision by Oct. 21.
“If we are able to acquire a reasonable answer through the process, it may serve as an exemplary model for resolving future conflicts,” Moon said.
While on the one hand the system is viewed as a democratic means to solve social problems, controversy has grown as critics point out ordinary citizens lack expertise.
Moon has also commented on the previous administration’s attempts to use public broadcasters as a means of government promotion, but promised that this would not happen under his leadership.
“The administrations attempting to dominate the media had its faults, but I believe the media also holds responsibility,” Moon said.
“I believe the media has a role to play in keeping the public interest in mind and having freedom of the press, but the Moon Jae-in administration pledges it will not attempt to dominate the media for its interests.”
Currently, around 250 reporters and news producers at MBC have stopped working to protest the broadcaster’s attempt to regulate the news. Earlier this month, it was unveiled that the broadcaster created a blacklist of reporters and producers who had taken part in a strike in 2012 protesting the broadcaster’s compliance with the then-Lee Myung-bak administration.
The union will conduct a survey among members next week on whether to go on strike.
Reporters at public broadcaster KBS voted in favor of a walkout, Wednesday, calling for its CEO to step down.
Moon also defined “social ills.” The term was widely cited under the Park Geun-hye administration when the influence-peddling and bribery scandal involving Park and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil broke out last October.
“I believe social ills include cheating that generates unfairness and inequality,” Moon said.
“The aim of my administration is to eradicate these ills, and make a fair and just society — this will not be achieved in a few years, but will require continuous effort.”