[Comprehensive] "Protect Nuclear Power" Following the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Board of Audit and Inspection Also... 'Support Wreath' Appears

Wreaths Supporting Choi Jae-hyung, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Placed

On the 29th, a wreath supporting nuclear power and sent by local civic groups was placed in front of the Board of Audit and Inspection in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, cheering on Chairman Choi Jae-hyung of the Board of Audit and Inspection. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] While controversy is brewing over the wreaths supporting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol piling up in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, wreaths supporting Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung have also been placed in front of the Board of Audit and Inspection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced the audit results on the feasibility of the early shutdown of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, stating that the 'economic feasibility' basis for the early shutdown decision was unreasonably undervalued.

On the afternoon of the 29th, three wreaths and nine flowerpots were placed in front of the entrance to the Board of Audit and Inspection in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu. Most of these were sent by nuclear power plant support groups and civic organizations, with ribbons on the wreaths bearing messages such as "Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, stay strong," "We support Chairman Choi's justice," "We support the Board of Audit and Inspection that protects the country with nuclear power," and "Please protect nuclear power," expressing support for Chairman Choi and nuclear power policies.

Notably, former Songpa District Mayor Park Chun-hee also sent a wreath with the phrase "The country lives if nuclear power lives."

It appears that these nuclear power support groups and some civic organizations sent wreaths to the Board of Audit and Inspection because Chairman Choi was criticized by some ruling party lawmakers during the audit process of the feasibility of the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1.

On the 20th, employees at the Legislative Affairs Office of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, are organizing the audit result report on the appropriateness of the early shutdown of Wolsong Unit 1 submitted by the Board of Audit and Inspection. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 20th, the Board of Audit and Inspection released an audit report stating that the economic feasibility, which was a key basis for the decision to shut down Wolseong Unit 1 early, was unreasonably undervalued. However, the report did not make a clear judgment on whether the government's decision to shut down the nuclear power plant early was appropriate or inappropriate.

Some ruling party lawmakers had previously raised suspicions about the audit, suggesting that "the conclusion was predetermined."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk pointed out during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Board of Audit and Inspection on the 15th that there was coercive auditing related to the Wolseong Unit 1 audit, stating, "There is concern that a highly complex decision like denuclearization is being questioned by non-expert (Board of Audit and Inspection) investigators in a pressuring manner, and that the conclusion was predetermined."

Also, when Chairman Choi repeatedly said that "there was strong resistance to the audit" that day, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye criticized, saying, "To say 'audit resistance' is unacceptable when said by Chairman Choi or anyone else," adding, "The subjects are public officials and state and public institutions. Audits should be conducted with recognition of human rights."

On the morning of the 29th, a wreath supporting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol was placed on the sidewalk in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, after Prosecutor General Yoon attended the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 22nd, wreaths from supporters were placed in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office entrance, sparking safety concerns.

On the 28th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk wrote on Facebook, "Today, while passing by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, I received a citizen's report that they almost slipped on fallen leaves from the wreaths," and pointed out, "Considering citizens' inconvenience and safety, the wreaths are very inappropriate."

In response, Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and head of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee in Seoul, retorted on his Facebook the next day (29th), saying, "Lawmaker Kim Nam-guk's excuse that he almost slipped on wreath leaves is petty," and added, "It's just a tantrum to remove them because they look unpleasant."