Nuclear Union Opposes KEPCO Engineering Original Headquarters Relocation... "Negative Impact on SMR"

The Nuclear Workers' Union Solidarity issued a statement opposing the relocation of the Korea Electric Power Technology Daejeon Reactor Design and Development Headquarters (Wonseol Headquarters) to Gimcheon.

In the statement released at the Changwon Grand City Hotel on the 29th-30th, the Nuclear Workers' Union Solidarity said, "The KEPCO Technology Daejeon Wonseol Headquarters is being forced to relocate its workplace to Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk," adding, "As a result, the outflow of excellent specialized technical personnel is expected to negatively impact core technological capabilities, nuclear safety infrastructure, overseas nuclear power plant exports, and the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR), which will lead to the beginning of the collapse of the nuclear ecosystem."

Korea Electric Power Technology has submitted a plan to relocate all employees of the Daejeon Wonseol Headquarters to Gimcheon by March, in response to demands from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and other government bodies.

The Wonseol Headquarters, with 324 employees, was originally operated as an internal organization of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and merged into KEPCO Technology in 1997. It is responsible for primary system design of domestic and international nuclear power plants, development of new technologies such as SMR, and is one of the core institutions in the Daejeon nuclear research and development cluster.

The Wonseol Headquarters is located within a 3km radius of related institutions based in Daejeon, including KEPCO Nuclear Research Institute (elemental technology), Nuclear Safety Technology Institute (regulation), KEPCO Nuclear Fuel (nuclear fuel technology), and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Central Research Institute (nuclear power plant operation and management).

Considering the importance of collaboration with related institutions, the Wonseol Headquarters remained in Daejeon instead of relocating to the Yongin headquarters when merged with KEPCO Technology. When the headquarters moved from Yongin to Gimcheon in 2015, the relocation of the Wonseol Headquarters was deferred.

The Nuclear Workers' Union Solidarity stated, "President Yoon Suk-yeol promised the public a revival of nuclear power through strengthening the nuclear industry ecosystem, but the Ministry of Industry is damaging the nuclear industry and ecosystem," adding, "The Wonseol Headquarters has contributed to the development of national science and technology for over 40 years in cooperation with Daejeon nuclear research institutions, and we ask for support to withdraw the relocation plan so that it can continue to contribute to restoring the nuclear ecosystem and the national energy industry."

Meanwhile, Cho Seung-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Daejeon Yuseong-gu Gap), and the Korea Electric Power Technology Labor Union held a press conference at the Daejeon City Council on the 22nd and issued an appeal opposing the relocation of the Wonseol Headquarters. On the 25th, Cho Seung-rae conveyed opposition to the relocation to the Ministry of Industry. Lee Sang-min of the People Power Party (Daejeon Yuseong-gu Eul) and Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon, also decided on the 23rd to convey their opinions to the central government, including the Ministry of Industry, to maintain the headquarters in Daejeon.

The Nuclear Workers' Union Solidarity is a coalition organization of seven labor unions related to the nuclear industry, including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Electric Power Technology, KEPCO Nuclear Fuel, KOSEN, and LHE, with a total workforce of approximately 25,000 employees.