Nuclear waste site to be successfully built
as national business project.
Gyeongju recorded the highest voter approval rate, 89.5%, to host the nation's first nuclear waste dumpsite. The national business project has now stepped over the threshold after 19 years of social conflict and district disputes over location of the site.
The government has tried to build nuclear waste dumpsites nine times, but they failed because local residents and environmentalists strongly protest against it. This time, it is meaningful that the project was settled by residents' votes, and, thanks to the solution, they can substantially cut the cost to the nation and reduce social conflict.
There might be some protest from areas that lost the vote, but fortunately Kunsan, Youngdug, and Pohang districts agree to accept their defeats. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that some social and environmental groups will walk out in protest to void the results of the vote.
The protesters should listen to the voices of criticism instead of protesting against the process of a democratic system which identified voters' opinions. However, the government should also consider some problems in the voting process, such as abusing government authority, disputes over absentee ballots, and severe district conflicts. They should prepare systems to remedy the shortcomings and improve the process. It is essential for the government to prepare solutions for the national business project.
The problems of the nuclear waste dumpsite haven't been solved yet, even after the votes. It is time to change. The government should go on in order to build the nuclear waste dumpsite, while actively preparing to solve some side effects. Real estate prices are skyrocketing in nearby areas of the nuclear waste dumpsite as speculative forces are gathering around. As Gyeongju City won almost 90 % of the voter approval rate, they should fully help the government build the nuclear waste dumpsite. It is promising that Gyeongju will be renewed, not only as an international tour and cultural city, but also as an atomic energy city, just like Forcemark in Sweden and Lotkashomura in Japan.
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 / 입력시간: 2005. 11.04. 09:15
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