A national petition has emerged to establish a Nuclear Safety Grant Tax.
The establishment of the Nuclear Safety Grant Tax was proposed by Daejeon City to the National Alliance of Nuclear Power Plant Regions (a consultative body composed of 23 local governments where nuclear power plants are located nationwide) and submitted to the National Assembly. However, it has been pending in the National Assembly for two years, remaining at a standstill.
The petition focuses on expanding public consensus on the necessity and justification for establishing the Nuclear Safety Grant Tax and creating an opportunity to initiate full-scale legislative activities.
The petitioner stated, “The 5.03 million residents of the 23 local governments near nuclear power plants and research reactors are suffering infringements on their right to life and environment due to 136,412 drums of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste generated from electricity production and nuclear research and development under national policy, storage of about 26,555 tons of high-level spent nuclear fuel, and about 10 accidents occurring annually.”
They also pointed out, “Although designated as radiation emergency planning zones, these areas have suffered direct and indirect economic disadvantages for decades, but government protection and support projects such as radiation prevention and safety management are virtually nonexistent.”
Furthermore, they urged, “The government should increase 0.06% of the total domestic tax revenue within the local allocation tax resources to establish the Nuclear Safety Grant Tax and provide equal support to the 23 local governments designated as radiation emergency planning zones that receive no national funding. Through this, the issue of regional equity should be resolved, and protection and welfare projects for the 5.03 million residents should be made possible.”
The petition system allows citizens to express their opinions or wishes on certain matters to state agencies, and when 50,000 citizens agree on the National Petition website within 30 days, the petition is submitted to the National Assembly.
The petitioner’s request regarding the establishment of the Nuclear Safety Grant Tax was posted on the National Petition board on the 27th and will undergo the agreement process until the 26th of next month.
Co-petitioners include the heads of local governments designated as radiation emergency planning zones: ▲ Kim Young-gil, Mayor of Jung-gu, Ulsan City; Seo Dong-wook, Mayor of Nam-gu; Kim Jong-hoon, Mayor of Dong-gu; Park Cheon-dong, Mayor of Buk-gu ▲ Kim Jin-hong, Mayor of Dong-gu, Busan City; Kim Young-wook, Mayor of Busanjin-gu; Jang Jun-yong, Mayor of Dongnae-gu; Oh Eun-taek, Mayor of Nam-gu; Oh Tae-won, Mayor of Buk-gu; Kim Sung-soo, Mayor of Haeundae-gu; Kim Jae-yoon, Mayor of Geumjeong-gu; Joo Seok-soo, Mayor of Yeonje-gu; Kang Sung-tae, Mayor of Suyeong-gu ▲ Jeong Yong-rae, Mayor of Yuseong-gu, Daejeon City ▲ Park Sang-soo, Mayor of Samcheok, Gangwon Province ▲ Shim Deok-seop, Mayor of Gochang County ▲ Kwon Ik-hyun, Mayor of Buan County ▲ Kim San, Mayor of Muan County ▲ Lee Sang-ik, Mayor of Hampyeong County ▲ Kim Han-jong, Mayor of Jangseong County ▲ Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang ▲ Park Hyun-guk, Mayor of Bonghwa County ▲ Na Dong-yeon, Mayor of Yangsan.
Meanwhile, Daejeon City and the National Alliance of Nuclear Power Plant Regions plan to carry out activities such as holding National Assembly forums and a nationwide citizen signature campaign of one million people, in addition to the national petition, to expedite the establishment of the Nuclear Safety Grant Tax.
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