South Korean environmentalists urged the government on Saturday to stop building new nuclear plants and shut down existing ones in the country, as concerns over the safety of such plants grow following Japan’s crisis.
About 100 protesters gathered in downtown Seoul and denounced the development of nuclear power, citing the emergency caused by Japan’s quake-crippled reactors.
The protesters lay down on the ground to perform a “die-in” – a popular form of protest in South Korea – pretending to be dead while covering themselves with yellow banners.
They said the yellow color represented a warning against the risks of nuclear power.
[Lee Heon-seok, Protest Leader]
“We’re urging the government to stop building new nuclear plants after the Fukushima nuclear accident, and also to shut down old nuclear plants.”
The country is operating 21 nuclear power plants, and seven more will come into production soon.
Nuclear power generates 34 percent of South Korea’s electricity. The government has endorsed the building of 11 more nuclear plants.
South Korea is also seeking to export its nuclear technology. It has reached agreements to build reactors in Jordan and United Arab Emirates and is pursuing deals across Asia, including China and India.
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