Choi Jae-hyung Urges Immediate Halt to Moon's Nuclear Phase-Out Policy... Launches Solo Protest

Former Auditor General Choi Jae-hyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, is holding a one-person protest against nuclear phase-out in front of the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the morning of the 25th. (Photo by Choi's former camp)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Choi Jae-hyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party and former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's 'nuclear phase-out' policy and called for its immediate halt.

On the 25th, Choi held a one-person protest against the nuclear phase-out near Gwanghwamun in Jongno-gu, Seoul, stating, "Stop the Moon administration's nuclear phase-out policy, which was decided after watching a movie, immediately."

Choi emphasized, "At the president's word, economic feasibility evaluations were manipulated, and the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 and the suspension of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 construction were carried out unlawfully," adding, "During my tenure as head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, I conducted an audit on the nuclear phase-out and uncovered the wrongdoing." Choi rose rapidly as an opposition presidential candidate by auditing Wolseong Unit 1, a symbol of the Moon administration's nuclear phase-out policy, and confronting the regime.

He pointed out, "Achieving carbon zero with wind and solar power is a fiction," and criticized, "During the four years of the Moon administration, the world's best nuclear technology and industry have been collapsing. I cannot understand the logic of reducing nuclear power domestically for safety while exporting our technology overseas."

Choi criticized the Korea Electric Power Corporation's (KEPCO) electricity rate hike as an inevitable result of the reckless nuclear phase-out policy. KEPCO raised the final fuel cost adjustment rate for the fourth quarter (October to December) by 3 won per kWh on the 23rd. This is the first electricity rate increase in about eight years since November 2013.

On the previous day, Choi wrote on Facebook, "The problem is that this is not the end but just the beginning," and pointed out, "With the electricity rate hike, inflationary pressures, including other public utility fees, will inevitably increase."

He added, "Nuclear power is essential for carbon neutrality," and said, "The nuclear phase-out policy must be abandoned."