Opposition: "Expanding Nuclear Power Plan Abandons Public Safety... Must Reconsider from the Start"

""Reduction of Renewable Energy Targets, an Anachronistic Policy""

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Members of the Democratic Party's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Business Committee have called for a "fundamental reconsideration" of the government's 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, which focuses on expanding the share of nuclear power generation and reducing the share of renewable energy.

Democratic Party Industry Committee members held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 11th, stating, "Today, the Industry Committee received a report on the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand (2022?2036), which symbolizes the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's energy policy," and added, "We urge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to withdraw its anachronistic energy policy and reconsider it from the ground up."

They explained, "The 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand reported by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to the National Assembly centers on significantly expanding nuclear power while lowering renewable energy supply targets," adding, "Compared to the 2021 NDC enhancement plan announced by the Moon Jae-in administration, renewable energy is reduced by 8.6 percentage points by 2030, while nuclear power is increased by 8.5 percentage points." They also noted, "The share of coal and LNG thermal power generation has actually increased by 1.3 percentage points."

Democratic Party lawmakers stated, "While the world is reducing coal power to cut carbon emissions, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration plans to reduce renewable energy," and emphasized, "The renewable energy NDC enhancement plan should be maintained, and the share of coal and LNG power generation should be further reduced by 8.5 percentage points."

They also raised concerns about the extension of operation for aging nuclear power plants.

They said, "In the case of France, although there are 56 nuclear reactors, nuclear power generation has decreased by about 30% over the past five years," explaining, "This is because the average operating years of French nuclear reactors have exceeded 30 years, leading to frequent corrosion and malfunctions. Claiming to achieve the greenhouse gas reduction targets of the 2030 NDC revision by increasing nuclear utilization is an empty cry."

The sun is rising over the Saeul Units 1 and 2 nuclear power plants in Ulju-gun, Ulsan, as well as the Saeul Units 3 and 4, which are in the final stages of construction. Saeul Unit 4 is a 1.4 million kW third-generation pressurized water reactor (APR1400) developed purely with domestic technology, and on the 22nd, it successfully completed the "initial power pressurization," marking the start of full-scale commissioning. Notably, the APR1400 pressurized water reactor used in Saeul Units 3 and 4 has already been applied to the UAE Barakah nuclear power plant, where its safety has been thoroughly verified, and additional exports to the Middle East and Eastern Europe are expected in the future. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju, Ulsan doso7@

Democratic Party lawmakers criticized, "Unconditional extension of operation without sufficient safety inspections is practically equivalent to 'abandoning public safety'." They also pointed out issues such as the failure to secure permanent storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel.

Furthermore, they expressed concerns about the reduction of renewable energy share while other countries are increasing theirs. They stated, "Reducing renewable energy generation targets is an anachronistic energy policy of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and an unprecedented policy disaster globally," and urged, "To rectify this, the renewable energy targets should be expanded according to the NDC enhancement plan."

Introducing European countries' renewable energy expansion policies, they pointed out, "The Moon Jae-in administration's attempt to scrap the carbon neutrality and NDC roadmap itself invites South Korea's isolation from the international community." They also warned, "This will cause a crisis in competitiveness not only in the renewable energy industry but across all industries," expressing concern that "a global carbon trade barrier centered on renewable energy will certainly act as a new trade order in the international community."