There were aspects of the process that left something to be desired. That would especially be the case with the allegations that Gyeongju's local government engaged in illegal behavior in the voting process. That is regrettable, since it leaves a negative precedent for what is the first application of the new "local referendum law." In addition, much too much compensation is being used to make the selection a success. Gyeongju will receive W300 billion in subsidies, a proton accelerator center, and it gets to be the new base of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation. How, then, is the national government going to compensate the locality that hosts the high level radioactive waste site that needs to be built?
The reason that locals, civic and environmental groups have campaigned so intensely against the construction of a radioactive waste site is not simply because of the facility itself, but in order to take issue with the national government's unilateral policy of increasing the country's use of nuclear power. Ever since Gyeongju was decided on as the home of the intermediate and low level radioactive waste site the government has been getting ready to encourage public discussion about where to build the high level radioactive site, but that is a technical issue, a complex and difficult one that is directly connected to the whole of Korea's energy and nuclear policies. We call on the government to begin the discussion with truly democratic and transparent methods.
The construction process about to begin in Gyeongju needs to proceed with exemplary transparency. The subsidies, in turn, should be used wisely and for the true development of the local community.
The Hankyoreh, 4 November 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
