Ruling and Opposition Clash with Divergent Interpretations at Industry Committee Audit
Kim Tae-nyeon: "Decision Considering Public Safety" Ju Ho-young: "Tracing the Core to the End"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] On the 22nd, the political sphere again clashed head-on over the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit results regarding the early shutdown decision of the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 (Wolseong 1).
At the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, and Small and Medium Enterprises Committee's audit session targeting the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the ruling and opposition parties exchanged conflicting interpretations of the audit results, leading to a heated debate from the start. The People Power Party labeled the government's forceful intervention to align with the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy as 'state misconduct' and launched a focused offensive. Meanwhile, the ruling party strongly countered, stating that the audit results did not judge the early shutdown of the nuclear plant as unjust.
Lee Cheol-gyu, the People Power Party's Industry Committee spokesperson, sharply criticized during a procedural speech, saying, "It has become clear to all that the early shutdown of Wolseong 1, a symbolic event of the nuclear phase-out policy, is a national disgrace," and added, "Numerous illegal issues occurred in the process of manipulating and concealing the economic feasibility of Wolseong 1."
In response, Song Gap-seok, the Democratic Party spokesperson, said, "The audit concluded that no decision could be made on whether the early shutdown of Wolseong 1 was justified. It is surprising how perspectives on the same announcement can differ so much," and warned, "We must be cautious not to let this result escalate into another political conflict over the nuclear phase-out issue." Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-young also defended, stating, "Connecting the Board of Audit and Inspection's results to the meaning of the nuclear phase-out policy risks misleading the public," and added, "The audit results only covered the economic feasibility evaluation and did not comprehensively consider safety and local acceptance, so please refrain from expressing that a decision on the validity of the early shutdown was made today."
On the other hand, the People Power Party rebutted, arguing that Wolseong 1 was ultimately initiated as part of the nuclear phase-out policy. Lee said, "It cannot be denied that the early shutdown of Wolseong 1 was part of the Moon administration's nuclear phase-out policy. The improper compliance with procedures during the implementation of the pledge must be examined," and added, "To prevent such incidents from recurring, the problems must be accurately identified and alternatives created." Lawmaker Kim Jeong-jae proposed, "If it is difficult to judge the validity of the early shutdown based on this result, let's request the Board of Audit and Inspection to also audit safety and local acceptance in addition to economic feasibility."
During the audit session, the opposition continued to criticize the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for systematically deleting data ahead of the audit on the early shutdown decision of Wolseong 1, according to the audit results.
People Power Party lawmaker Yang Geum-hee said, "It is astonishing that such things happened in present-day Korea, witnessing data concealment, manipulation, and organized resistance to the audit," and demanded the submission of the deleted data. Lawmaker Han Mu-kyung also urged, "If the Ministry does not provide the data, the Board of Audit and Inspection has restored data. I ask the ruling and opposition party secretaries to agree so that lawmakers from both sides can review it together."
Rookie Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Young-dae pointed out that the problem was that the 20th National Assembly focused only on economic feasibility when requesting the audit on the early shutdown of Wolseong 1, which led to a heated exchange between the ruling and opposition parties.
Lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu criticized, "The People Power Party also regrets that the Board of Audit and Inspection could not fully clarify the validity of shutting down Wolseong 1. It is very regrettable to say that the National Assembly, whose fundamental role is to check the executive branch's policies and execution, was wrong to request the audit," demanding an explanation.
However, lawmaker Shin responded, calling it a "sensitive reaction," and said, "I express regret toward the 20th National Assembly, which requested such a poor audit that produced neither bread nor filling," and asked, "Can you not even raise issues about the 20th National Assembly?" His refusal to back down and the phrase "poor activities" provoked People Power Party lawmakers who served in the 20th National Assembly, causing a commotion in the chamber.
Lawmaker Kim Jeong-jae said, "It seems like you are belittling the Board of Audit and Inspection's results," and added, "Using derogatory words in front of a fellow lawmaker about a request made by bipartisan agreement in the 20th National Assembly is disrespectful behavior."
The party leadership's verbal sparring also continued. Democratic Party floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon held a National Assembly audit strategy meeting in the morning and said, "The early shutdown of Wolseong 1 was a policy decision made with priority on the people's lives and safety," and questioned, "Do you not care even if unimaginable casualties occur due to an accident at an aging nuclear plant? I want to ask the People Power Party this," emphasizing safety issues to prevent the audit results from leading to criticism of the government's overall nuclear phase-out policy and focusing on containing the controversy.
The People Power Party continues to demand punishment for those responsible and a fundamental review of the nuclear phase-out policy. Floor leader Joo Ho-young said at an emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, "The minister hastily made decisions that did not follow procedures and destroyed documents late at night, which is an organized criminal act shaking the nation," and vowed, "We will file charges against them and pursue who the mastermind is to the end." Emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in said, "Germany's nuclear phase-out resulted in the world's highest electricity prices," and added, "Energy demand will explosively increase to develop the 4th industrial revolution, but it is unclear on what grounds a country that has never experienced a nuclear accident is pushing for nuclear phase-out," calling for a reconsideration.
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