[Exclusive] Gyeongju City, Amid 'Japan Quarantine Supplies Support Controversy,' Disposes of Radiation Protective Suits and Replaces Them with 'Masks'

Level D Protective Suits Recalled, Replaced with 'Special Grade Masks'
Supply for 55,000 People within 25km Radius of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant

Panoramic View of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Wolseong Nuclear Power Headquarters

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongju City, Gyeongbuk Province, which is adjacent to the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, has confirmed that it is retrieving all Level D protective suits stocked in village halls and replacing them with 'special-grade masks' as part of a new 'nuclear radiation exposure countermeasure.'

Following public backlash in May when it was revealed that Gyeongju City had supplied a large quantity of quarantine supplies to Japan without any alternative measures, it is reported that the city, under the unilateral decision of Mayor Joo Nak-young and without communication to alleviate local residents' anxiety, has made this decision again, raising expectations of further controversy.

According to Gyeongju City on the 30th, the city recently signed a contract with a mask manufacturer to purchase 55,000 units of 'special-grade dust masks' at 4,600 won each. This quantity corresponds to the number of citizens (approximately 55,000) within a 25 km radius of the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant (Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant).

Gyeongju City has set the scope of the 'radiation emergency planning zone' at 25 km with the approval of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. This range has been maintained despite calls from civic groups to expand it, considering that the affected area during the Fukushima nuclear accident exceeded 30 km.

Gyeongju City plans to distribute these masks to local senior centers and village halls around the end of the year when the masks are produced. Instead, all Level D protective suits previously stored in these locations will be retrieved. The Level D protective suit consists of four items: full-body protective clothing, mask, gloves, and shoe covers. Going forward, the 'radiation exposure response gear' that was previously provided as a set will be reduced to just a mask.

Regarding this, a Gyeongju City official introduced the 2015 recommendation from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, stating, "The most important resident protection measure in the event of a radiation leak accident is the prompt evacuation of residents to a safe area," and that wearing protective suits and gas masks during evacuation could cause delays and potentially worsen side effects.

He added, "It has been confirmed that protective suits were also retrieved in Busan's Gijang County near the Kori Nuclear Power Plant," and explained, "The city has not yet decided how to handle the retrieved Level D protective suits."