A coalition of civil society and religious groups has completed an 800-kilometer walking pilgrimage opposing the construction of new nuclear power plants and the extension of aging reactors in South Korea.
After concluding the journey, the groups held a press conference and Catholic Mass in Sejong, pressing the government to reverse its nuclear policy and pursue a just transition to renewable energy.
The Citizens’ Action for Nuclear Phase-out, a nationwide network of 41 civic and faith-based organizations, announced its position on Jan. 19 outside the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, following the end of the cross-country walk.
The coalition urged authorities to “completely scrap plans to build new nuclear power plants and immediately halt the extension of the lifespans of aging nuclear power plants,” Catholic Peace Broadcasting Foundation reported.
The appeal comes as the administration of Lee Jae-myung has said nuclear power is needed to meet soaring electricity demand driven by the rise of artificial intelligence.
Climate Minister Kim Sung-hwan, who had previously expressed support for nuclear phase-out, also said during the “Second Policy Debate on Desirable Energy Mix” on Jan. 7 that he would not rule out nuclear power.
In its statement, the coalition questioned whether the government’s nuclear policy is designed to ensure safety and sustainability or to serve the interests of the nuclear industry.
“As the current government pursues its nuclear power plant policy, public opinion has been controlled, and the structural limitations of the energy policy pursued by the previous government are continuing,” the group said.
It added, “The construction of nuclear power plants does not meet any of the conditions for a just energy transition, and it is not a national energy strategy for the future.”
The groups called on the government and the Blue House to immediately halt what they described as the climate ministry’s perfunctory public consultation process, withdraw plans for new nuclear power plants included in the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, and establish a 12th plan that sets a direction for a just energy transition grounded in nuclear phase-out.
Before the press conference, a Mass was celebrated by Father Kim Dae-geon, director of the Social Evangelization Department of the Daejeon Diocese.
Pilgrims and participants stressed that, in an era of climate crisis, the alternative lies not in nuclear power but in a transition to safe energy.
In his homily, Father Kim said, “To achieve the fruit of nuclear phase-out, we must constantly speak out and work to ensure that many people empathize with creating the world God desires.”
After the press conference, the pilgrims delivered a letter to officials of the climate, energy and environment ministry expressing opposition to both new nuclear construction and the extension of aging reactors.
The pilgrimage, described as an 800-kilometer journey and covering a total distance of 856.9 kilometers, began on Jan. 5 from Yeonggwang in South Jeolla Province, Busan’s Gori and Shin-Gori nuclear sites, and Sejong.
It concluded on Jan. 20 in front of the Blue House, where another Mass was held, presided over by Father Yang Ki-seok, standing representative of the Solidarity for Creation Preservation.
Professor Emeritus Seong Won-gi (Thomas More) of Kangwon National University, an executive committee member of the Citizens’ Action for Nuclear Phase-out who joined the walk to the Gori Nuclear Power Plant, warned, “Currently, our country is reaching the critical point of nuclear power plant capacity, and if we fail to stop it now, South Korea will inevitably run towards misfortune like Japan.”
“I urge President Lee Jae-myung to make a decision to ensure a just transition to renewable energy,” he added.
