Joo Ho-young: "If President Moon is Legally Responsible for Nuclear Plant Shutdowns... He Cannot Avoid Accountability"

"Criminal Charges Filed Against Those Responsible for Unfair and Illegal Nuclear Plant Shutdowns"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the emergency response committee and senior lawmakers joint meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st, delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, commented on the Board of Audit and Inspection's (BAI) audit results regarding the early shutdown process of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 on the 21st, stating, “President Moon Jae-in is currently in office, and although there are signs that the BAI did not conduct a proper audit, if there is legal responsibility after his term, he will not be able to evade it,” and added, “We will hold accountable and rectify the unjust and illegal nuclear phase-out policy to the very end.”

At the joint meeting of the Emergency Committee Chairperson and senior lawmakers held at the National Assembly that day, Floor Leader Joo said, “The 370 billion won was lost due to President Moon’s single word on when to stop Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, which became the starting point for the illegal and unjust shutdown. The fact that public officials, including former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu, destroyed as many as 444 documents the day before the audit symbolically reveals that the early shutdown of the nuclear plant was wrong,” and added, “We will criminally report all those responsible for obstructing the audit, abusing authority, and damaging official documents during this unjust shutdown process.”

Floor Leader Joo emphasized, “The public officials who are effectively being accused may have grievances. Even public officials have the duty to refuse illegal and unjust orders, and destroying official documents late at night is unforgivable,” and said, “If there are grievances during the investigation and trial process, it should be clarified who the main culprit is and how the illegal process that inevitably led to the shutdown of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 occurred.”

He also stated, “The audit commissioners of the BAI, which is an independent constitutional institution, who acted as lackeys of the regime to obstruct the audit conclusion and undermined the independence and neutrality of the BAI will remain a disgrace to their families for generations.”