Korean gov`t to seek new applicants for nuclear waste facility
IRNA
Seoul, Dec 10, Asia Pulse/IRNA -- Responding to intense disputes among residents of Buan, North Jeolla province in recent months over the construction of South Korea`s first nuclear waste dump nearby, the government plans to seek additional applicants for the controversial facility, Commerce, Industry and Energy Minister Yoon Jin-sik said today. "When Wido Islet was earlier selected as as the site for the nuclear waste facility, the opinions of residents of Buan County were not faithfully reflected," the minister said. Wido belongs to the county, located some 280 km south of Seoul on the west coast. "Therefore, (the government) plans to receive additional applications from other local governments," Yoon said. Yoon`s remarks were a departure from the government`s long-held stance that the selection was made in accordance with low-income Wido islanders` wishes to accept the facility in return for a financial aid package, and thus it cannot change the site. Currently, Buan residents are seeking a vote on whether to approve the nuclear waste dump, but a date for balloting has yet to be decided. The government is known to be planning to choose a final candidate site via deliberations if more than one local government desires the facility. However, priority will reportedly be given to Buan if a majority of its residents vote in favor of the plan. /AH/210 End
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