hankyoreh

Aug. 27. (provided by the Anti-Nuclear Power Struggle Committee)

By Park Soo-hyuk, Gangwon correspondent

A referendum on plans to build a new nuclear power facility in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, is scheduled for Oct. 9. It would be the first referendum on nuclear power plant construction in South Korea’s history.

But the vote is being organized by private organizations after the city’s local election commission declined to hold an official referendum, citing the government’s argument that withdrawal of a nuclear power plant bid is a “national matter” and “not subject to resident voting.”

The referendum managing committee announced a date and provisional ballot on Sept. 15 through the Samcheok City Hall website and various village and township bulletin boards. Voting is to take place between 6 am and 8 pm on Oct. 9, with the ballot listing two options - “for the [nuclear power plant] bid” and “against the bid” - to clearly specify the referendum’s purpose.

If a large number of voters choose “against,” the city plans to cite the numbers to demand the government cancel the construction plans.

“Resident views were not adequately reflected in the power plant bid application process, and there has been ongoing conflict among residents over the procedural legitimacy and the appropriateness of the application,” explained Mayor Kim Yang-ho.

Kim went on to plead for “all eligible voters to cast their ballot - for or against - so we can find out what residents truly want.”

Referendum results are decided by a majority of eligible voters, with a requirement that one-third of local registered voters cast ballots. Applications from representative groups to campaign for or against the bid will be accepted through Sept. 17, with voter roll confirmation to take place by Sept. 30 and polling stations to be announced by Oct. 4.

Previously, the referendum managing committee held a launch ceremony on Sept. 12 where DMZ Peace-Life Valley chairman Chung Sung-hun was elected chairman and voting was held for the articles of association, voting rules, and a schedule.

Chung promised to “run the committee fairly so that this is a vote that all Samcheok citizens agree with and can accept the outcome of.”

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]