By Kim Se-jeong
A group of professors, environmental activists and Catholic priests are embarking on a month-long walking tour that will end in Seoul, to educate people about the dangers of nuclear energy.
On Feb. 1, about 10 people began walking from Daejeon, hoping to reach Gwanghwamun in Seoul by March 1.
"Nuclear power is a matter of survival, affecting not just me but my grandchildren and their children," Prof. Sung Won-ki, who teaches electronic engineering at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, said during a telephone interview on Feb. 3 when the group had just left the administrative city of Sejong. "Look at what happened in Fukushima. If that happens in Korea, we will lose everything. Korea is a small country, and an accident can affect the entire nation."
The protesters are carrying a sign that reads "No to nuclear power plants."
They are also handing out fliers about the dangers of nuclear power plants. "People who read the fliers say they did not realize how great the potential threats of nuclear energy are. That makes us feel good because they could make a difference when they go to election polls in the future," Sung said.
Korea is one of the most densely populated countries when it comes to nuclear power plants. It currently operates 23 plants, for which safety concerns are mounting, especially since the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
The Green Party, followed by other anti-nuclear energy groups, was founded in this context. A court ruling in Busan late last year also increased fear. The court ruled that the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corp. was responsible for a type of thyroid cancer prevalent in the village near the Kori power plant.
On Tuesday, the city of Busan received a petition with 10,000 signatures calling for the city mayor to shut down the Kori No. 1 power plant. The power plant was supposed to stop in 2007.
The high density of nuclear power plants in the country was a result of the government's priority for nuclear energy in its energy supply plan. Nuclear energy provides almost 30 percent of electricity generated in the country.
The government argues that nuclear energy is clean energy because it does not emit any greenhouse gases. It also says the industry is critical to the export-dependent Korean economy. Korea has successfully exported its nuclear power technology in recent years.
The group will walk through Cheonan in the South Chungcheong Province as well as Pyeongtaek, Osan, Suwon and Bundang in Gyeonggi Province before reaching Seoul. Sung said the group welcomes supporters who want to walk with them. Interested individuals and groups may call Sung at 010-6375-6354.
A group of professors, environmental activists and Catholic priests are embarking on a month-long walking tour that will end in Seoul, to educate people about the dangers of nuclear energy.
On Feb. 1, about 10 people began walking from Daejeon, hoping to reach Gwanghwamun in Seoul by March 1.
"Nuclear power is a matter of survival, affecting not just me but my grandchildren and their children," Prof. Sung Won-ki, who teaches electronic engineering at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, said during a telephone interview on Feb. 3 when the group had just left the administrative city of Sejong. "Look at what happened in Fukushima. If that happens in Korea, we will lose everything. Korea is a small country, and an accident can affect the entire nation."
The protesters are carrying a sign that reads "No to nuclear power plants."
They are also handing out fliers about the dangers of nuclear power plants. "People who read the fliers say they did not realize how great the potential threats of nuclear energy are. That makes us feel good because they could make a difference when they go to election polls in the future," Sung said.
Korea is one of the most densely populated countries when it comes to nuclear power plants. It currently operates 23 plants, for which safety concerns are mounting, especially since the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
The Green Party, followed by other anti-nuclear energy groups, was founded in this context. A court ruling in Busan late last year also increased fear. The court ruled that the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corp. was responsible for a type of thyroid cancer prevalent in the village near the Kori power plant.
On Tuesday, the city of Busan received a petition with 10,000 signatures calling for the city mayor to shut down the Kori No. 1 power plant. The power plant was supposed to stop in 2007.
The high density of nuclear power plants in the country was a result of the government's priority for nuclear energy in its energy supply plan. Nuclear energy provides almost 30 percent of electricity generated in the country.
The government argues that nuclear energy is clean energy because it does not emit any greenhouse gases. It also says the industry is critical to the export-dependent Korean economy. Korea has successfully exported its nuclear power technology in recent years.
The group will walk through Cheonan in the South Chungcheong Province as well as Pyeongtaek, Osan, Suwon and Bundang in Gyeonggi Province before reaching Seoul. Sung said the group welcomes supporters who want to walk with them. Interested individuals and groups may call Sung at 010-6375-6354.
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