[이정재의 시시각각] After the nuclear power plant is so heavy

Jung-Jae Lee Columnist JoongAng Ilbo

There are two main points of the controversy over nuclear power plants in North Korea. The rest are side by side. First, an official of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy prepared the’Nuclear Power Plant Report’. Then I discarded it on my own. Therefore, there was no Han Myung or instruction of the Blue House. Does this make sense? Second, even if the Moon Jae-in administration planned to provide nuclear power to North Korea, why is that a problem? Wasn’t it something you did since the Kim Young-sam administration? It is enough to uncover the truth by digging through both of these controversies. It is said that the Blue House, the government, and the opposition parties are not going to be engulfed in the political battle because I don’t know about people living in this difficult time.

For the first controversy to make sense, there are some prerequisites. First of all, there should be a large number of civil servants armed with friendship. Also, the officials must firmly trust each other. It is difficult if someone betrays you. Moreover, you must be confident that there is no reprimand if something goes wrong. Reality is different.

In May 2018, when the nuclear power plant document was written, the atmosphere of the Ministry of Industry was the worst. In January 2018, four months ago, the head of the Ministry of Industry, K-Mo, was arrested on charges of taking care of the’Cheong Wa Dae’s greetings. Clerk S, who was in charge of the practice, was also arrested two months ago, so the Ministry of Industry and Sejong officials were in great shock. This was the first time that the director as well as the person in charge was arrested. A former high-ranking official said, “At the time, there was a prevalent atmosphere within the Ministry of Industry that’let’s not do anything to take responsibility for. Even if the minister or chief executive said,’I’m in charge,’ he was often cynical, saying,’How do you believe?’ In such a situation, only the secretary of Mo K and his department voluntarily wrote the matters of interest to the Blue House, but it is not at all common sense.

The mood of the Ministry of Industry has been worse recently. Rather than covering up his subordinates, the minister criticizes him as “it is wrong to delete documents.” Who will trust whom It is said that all the employees involved in the shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 also use a separate lawyer. A government official said, “Separate lawyers are written by the minister, the director separately, and the director, manager, and secretary. In the same case, it is common sense to jointly appoint an attorney, but it is not possible. Someone directed it, and somebody followed it.” The nature of nuclear power plant documents against North Korea will be the same. When it comes to the King Sejong, the words “Only public officials die because the president tries not to take responsibility.”

Second controversy, nuclear power plant support to North Korea can be done. However, two premise are absolutely necessary. It is the denuclearization of North Korea and the development of the Korean nuclear power industry. Only when these two are satisfied can a justification and a reason. In the days of the conservative government, there was no need to doubt this premise. However, the Moon Jae-in administration is different. The president will not talk about the denuclearization of North Korea for some time. Say only’conversation’. Even if the inter-Korean liaison office is blown up and a public official is killed in the West Sea, it only speaks’talk’. Therefore, only the public’s doubts about the will to denuclearize North Korea increase.

The second premise goes without saying more. In June 2017, President Moon said, “Nuclear power plants are neither safe nor cheap nor eco-friendly.” Then, the following year, he met with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and said, “Korea has operated nuclear power plants for the past 40 years and has not had a single accident.” The president’s words about the nuclear power plant are different at this time and at that time, so the people cannot believe it.

The nuclear power plant is ideal as a bridgehead for peace between the two Koreas. If it goes to the political and truth battle without serious thoughts about the future of the Korean Peninsula, this and the next government will lose the nuclear power plant card. Eventually, the Korean Peninsula will lose its nuclear power and peace. The starting point of all this is the post-nuclear warfare. Post-nuclear power is the main culprit that made it difficult to resolve carbon neutrality and fine dust, and destroyed jobs and future food. Finally, even if they want to support nuclear power plants in North Korea, they are making it impossible. The aftermath of the leader’s wrong vision is so heavy. At this point, it is time for the president to make a decision. Rather, what if we openly declare the three sets of denuclearization of North Korea + support of nuclear power plants to North Korea + dismantlement of nuclear power plants and seek national consent?

Jung-Jae Lee Columnist JoongAng Ilbo