[2020 National Audit] Eom Jae-sik "I Do Not Think the Decision to Suspend Operation of Wolseong Unit 1 Was Wrong"

Kim Young-sik "Audit request to the Board of Audit and Inspection to verify if there was no external pressure on the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission"

Eom Jae-sik, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, is answering questions at the Science, Technology, Information and Communication Committee's comprehensive audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 23rd. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Eom Jae-sik, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, stated on the 23rd, "I do not think the decision to approve the Wolseong operational change permit, which was passed at last year's full meeting of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, was wrong."

Chairman Eom made this remark during the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee's audit of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, responding to People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sik's criticism that the decision to halt operations at Wolseong Unit 1 nuclear power plant was premature.

Chairman Eom also emphasized, "I have not received any contact from the Blue House or the Prime Minister's Office regarding the decision-making," and added, "The final decision was made after carefully considering safety aspects before the permanent shutdown decision."

In response, lawmaker Kim argued, "We must request an audit from the Board of Audit and Inspection to determine whether there was any external pressure during the decision process to close Wolseong Unit 1."

When People Power Party lawmaker Park Dae-chul asked, "The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission played the final role in stamping the country's energy disposal. Is there no fault on the part of the Commission according to the audit results?" Chairman Eom replied, "We thoroughly reviewed whether a permanent shutdown decision was possible from a safety perspective."

Jung Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, said, "I believe this decision was still just and reasonable," adding, "However, I think it is necessary to clarify the standards clearly in advance to prevent disputes."