"Through Conservative Grand Unification, Nuclear Phase-Out Must Be Abandoned"…Nuclear Sector Supports Hyuktongwi

Park Hyung-jun, chairman of the Innovation and Unity Committee, is exchanging greetings with former lawmaker Kim Young-hwan before their meeting at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Civic groups related to nuclear power have called for the abolition of the nuclear phase-out policy and expressed support for the integrated new party promoted by the Innovation and Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC).

Six civic groups, including the Nuclear Power National Solidarity and the Council for Environmental Movement Practice, announced on the 29th through a statement that they would actively participate in the integrated new party.

These civic groups emphasized, "The nuclear phase-out, which was initiated in an anti-scientific and anti-constitutional manner by an imperial president, has burdened the people of the Republic of Korea with greenhouse gases, fine dust, and electricity bill shocks, causing the greatest energy security crisis since the founding of the nation. Meanwhile, nuclear power countries competing with us recognize nuclear power as an eco-friendly energy for the future and are strengthening their nuclear competitiveness."

The statement said, "The nuclear sector and patriotic citizens supporting nuclear power have persistently raised awareness of the harms of the nuclear phase-out through various means and demanded its immediate abolition, but the Moon administration, immersed in ideology and regime maintenance, refuses communication and is driving the people into suffering. Only the judgment of the Moon administration through the April 15 general election can correct energy policy and abolish the nuclear phase-out."

The civic groups stated, "For victory in the April 15 general election, the anti-Moon Jae-in centrist-conservative grand unification is indispensable," and urged, "All political parties, including the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party, should voluntarily relinquish all vested interests and participate in the centrist-conservative grand unification with a posture of 'live and die together'."

Meanwhile, on the same day, former lawmakers Kim Young-hwan and Moon Byung-ho, who were classified as part of the Ahn Cheol-soo faction, joined the IIPC. Chairman Park Hyung-joon had earlier requested their participation, saying, "To bring the train that has gone off the normal track back to normal, we must go beyond small differences and move toward a greater Republic of Korea." After a 30-minute meeting with Chairman Park, the two lawmakers decided to join.