Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Life Extension Public Hearing in Yeonggwang Residents 'Canceled'

Public Hearing, Nuclear Power "Will Proceed" vs Residents "Withdraw It"

Environmental Groups Occupy Podium... Significant Impact on Remaining Public Hearings

The public hearing on the lifespan extension of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2, hosted by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Hanbit Nuclear Power Headquarters, was canceled due to opposition from local residents and environmental groups.

On the 12th at 2 p.m., Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant held a public hearing on the lifespan extension of Units 1 and 2 at the Yeonggwang Sportium Gymnasium. However, the event ended in disruption as local residents demanding the cancellation of the hearing strongly protested, and about 20 members of environmental groups occupied the stage.

On the 12th, the public hearing on the lifespan extension of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, was canceled due to opposition from local residents and environmental groups. The photo shows a member of an environmental group lying down on the podium surrounded by security guards, shouting for the withdrawal of the public hearing.
[Photo by Kim Geon-wan yacht@]

They continued to protest vehemently, claiming that "the draft radiation impact assessment public hearing for Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 is invalid as it does not reflect residents' opinions," and scuffles broke out between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Power (KHNP) staff trying to stop them. Some residents expressed their strong opposition by overturning chairs.

Given the situation, Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant declared the public hearing canceled just 10 minutes after it began, citing "force majeure reasons not attributable to the project operator," and hurriedly ended the event.

Furthermore, after the hearing was canceled, local residents and environmental groups declared the attendance list invalid and demanded KHNP retrieve the application forms they had collected, leading to a fierce dispute between Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant officials and the protesters.

At 2 p.m. on the 12th, residents strongly protested at the first public hearing on the lifespan extension of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2, held at the auxiliary stadium of Yeonggwang Sportium in Jeonnam.
[Photo by Kim Geon-wan yacht@]

At around 4:10 p.m., local residents and environmental groups visited Yeonggwang County Office to lodge a protest. During a meeting with Acting County Governor Kim Jeong-seop, they demanded ▲ that Yeonggwang County, where Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant is located, be the last location for public hearings among six cities and counties (due to impacts on other cities/counties), ▲ exclusion of the team leader with strong arbitrary judgment from meetings, and ▲ participation of nuclear power experts recommended by local residents in the public hearings. Yeonggwang County announced it would review these demands and make an official announcement on the 15th.

Earlier, around noon, about 150 local residents and environmental groups held a press conference demanding the cancellation of the public hearing.

In the press release, they claimed, "KHNP drafted the assessment report in complicated terms that residents cannot understand, making it a sloppy document," and "neighboring local governments repeatedly requested revisions from KHNP, but these were rejected, and local governments were intimidated through administrative lawsuits to enforce the public inspection process for residents."

They also urged, "The draft environmental impact assessment does not include measures to ensure safety or address major accidents," and called on KHNP to discard the faulty radiation environmental impact assessment and withdraw all procedures related to the nuclear power plant lifespan extension.

At 12 PM on the 12th, more than 150 local residents and environmental groups held a press conference demanding the withdrawal of the public hearing.
[Photo by Kim Geonwan yacht@]

KHNP had reserved only the annex gymnasium of Yeonggwang Sportium from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the hearing. Although KHNP claimed they also used part of the main building of Sportium and had reserved that space as well, this was confirmed to be untrue.

The main building section was used as the situation room for the two major sports events in Jeollanam-do in April, and on this day, KHNP operated it as the headquarters field situation room. Several Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant security personnel were stationed at the entrance to control access. It was revealed that about 20 KHNP executives and officials held an on-site countermeasure meeting there.

KHNP staff also showed somewhat aggressive behavior, pushing away reporters.

Meanwhile, due to opposition from environmental groups and residents, the draft radiation environmental impact assessment public inspection and public hearing were canceled, likely causing setbacks in the lifespan extension procedures for Hanbit Units 1 and 2. Additionally, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake that occurred on the 12th of last month in Buan County, Jeonbuk, about 40 km from Yeonggwang Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, has fueled residents' anxiety and remains a deep source of opposition to the lifespan extension.

Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant began commercial operation of Unit 1 in 1985 and Unit 2 in 1986. KHNP has been proceeding since last year with procedures to operate Hanbit Units 1 and 2, whose 40-year design lifespans expire in 2025 and 2026 respectively, for about 10 years beyond their intended lifespan. Accordingly, Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant is conducting public inspections of the draft radiation environmental impact assessment and holding public hearings with residents.

KHNP plans to hold public hearings on the 15th in Gochang, on the 17th in Muan, on the 19th in Hampyeong, on the 22nd in Muan, and on the 23rd in Jangseong. Among these, Buan County and Hampyeong County have requested postponements.

A KHNP official stated, "Hanbit Units 1 and 2 must continue operation for stable power supply," and added, "The briefing session scheduled for the 15th in Gochang, Jeonbuk, will proceed as planned."