A National Betrayal: Nuclear Sovereignty Surrendered for 50 Years
Strict Accountability Demanded for Yoon Suk-yeol and Other Key Figures
Jinwook Jung, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Jinwook Jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangju Dongnam-gap), stated on the 20th, "The secret agreement between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), and Westinghouse is a treacherous shackle that surrenders South Korea's nuclear sovereignty for 50 years," adding, "Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok, and former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun can never escape responsibility for this."
Jung expressed his position regarding a recent media report titled "Yoon's Reckless Move Shackles K-Nuclear for 50 Years... Guarantees 1 Trillion Won per Reactor to the U.S."
He argued, "The backroom deal between KEPCO, KHNP, and U.S.-based Westinghouse was nothing more than a deceptive show orchestrated by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which was facing a political crisis due to bribery allegations involving Kim Keon-hee and the Myung Tae-gyun case. In an attempt to escape this crisis, the administration pushed through the deal. A government rejected by the people sacrificed national assets and strategic resources through a window-dressing contract for the Czech nuclear project, ultimately resulting in a tragic and hasty agreement that mortgaged our national sovereignty and pride."
He emphasized, "According to the contract, South Korea is forced to pay a technology usage fee and purchase equipment amounting to over 1 trillion won per nuclear reactor, and even our proprietary SMR technology cannot be exported without Westinghouse's verification. This is a shackle that prevents us from exporting independently. In essence, we have thrown away our opportunities for nuclear technology self-reliance and industrial development."
He continued, "Since last year's National Assembly audit, I have raised suspicions about the Czech nuclear project bidding process. I requested the minutes of the board meetings related to the Westinghouse agreement held by KEPCO and KHNP in November last year, as well as documents regarding possible intervention from the presidential office. However, I have not received a single document to date. Now, the reasons for this are gradually becoming clear."
He further stated, "The documents requested from the relevant agencies constitute key evidence to prove the humiliating background of the agreement and whether the presidential office was involved. If the media reports are confirmed as true, the administration at the time will go down in history as an accomplice to a treasonous crime that deceived the people, and those responsible, including Yoon Suk-yeol, will never be able to avoid legal accountability."
Meanwhile, Jung added, "I will mobilize all possible means, including a future parliamentary investigation and a request for an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, to thoroughly uncover the full story behind the secret agreement. Not only will I ensure strict punishment for those responsible, but I will also dismantle the nuclear mafia cartel to normalize South Korea's nuclear industry."
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