Consensus on reactors

신고리원전공론화

The Moon Jae-in administration has launched an ad-hoc committee to gather public opinion on whether to permanently halt the construction of the Nos. 5 and 6 Shin Kori nuclear reactors.

신고리 원자력발전소 5, 6호기 건설 영구 중단 여부를 결정하기 위한 공론화위원회가출범했다.

The committee is tasked with overseeing the design and management of a public discussion on the fate of the two reactors, which are 29 percent complete.

위원회는공정이29퍼센트완료된신고리두기의운명을결정할공론화과정의설계및관리를맡게된다.

The committee will select a group of “citizen jurors,” conduct surveys and hold public hearings over the next three months. The “jurors” will make a decision on the construction of the reactors by Oct. 21.

공론화위는앞으로3개월동안 `시민 배심원단’을구성하고여론조사,토론회등을개최하게된다.배심원단은10월 21일까지신고리 5, 6호기에대한결정을내린다.

Kim Ji-hyung, who served as a Supreme Court justice under the President Roh Moo-hyun administration, will head the panel.

위원장에는김지형전대법관이선임됐다.

The eight other committee members are experts from four fields: humanities and society, science and technology, surveys and statistics, and conflict management.

위원에는인문사회,과학기술,조사통계,갈등관리분야에서각 2명씩, 총8명이위촉됐다.

To ensure neutrality, the government excluded energy and nuclear experts. The committee members are considered to be moderates.

정부는중립성확보를위해에너지및원자력전문가를배제했다.

But given that Kim is progressive-minded, pro-nuclear experts accused the government of having broken its promise to form a neutral panel.

위원들은중립성향으로간주되고있지만원전옹호론자들은김위원장이진보성향인점을들어정부가중립적인위원회를구성하겠다는당초약속을깼다고목소리를높였다.

In a briefing Monday, Minister of Government Policy Coordination Hong

Nam-ki said, “The committee will maintain fairness, independence and transparency without outside interference. The government will accept the jury’s final conclusion.”

홍남기 국무조정실장은 월요일브리핑에서 ``공론화위가 외부간섭없이 공정성, 독립성,투명성을견지하고정부는최종결과가나오면이를그대로수용할것”이라고밝혔다.

But considering that President Moon is ramping up his resolve to wean Korea off nuclear energy, there are suspicions that the conclusion ― permanently halting the construction ― may have already been made.

하지만 문재인 대통령이 `탈핵 의지’를 높여온 점을 고려할 때공사 영구 중단 결정이이미내려졌을지모른다는의혹도커지고있다.

True, the success of the public debate will depend on whether fair procedures are observed. Canvassing opinion in a transparent and fair manner is the only way to minimize the aftermath of the decision. Not surprisingly, the emergence of even slight suspicions would result in confusion and a schism in public opinion.

사실공론화실험의성공여부는공정한절차에달려있다고해도과언이 아니다. 투명하고공정한공론화 과정만이 후유증을 최소화하는 길이다. 조금이라도 의혹이 제기된다면혼란과국론분열은불가피하다.

Needless to say, the citizens need to fully take into account the government’s electricity demand-supply plan, energy security and national competitiveness as well as the danger of nuclear power plants before making their decision.

결정을내리기전배심원단이원전의위험성은물론정부의전력수급 계획, 에너지안보,국가경쟁력도종합적으로고려해야함은물론이다.

It also might be necessary to extend the 90-day duration of the committee. Of course, there is no need to delay the decision too long, but phasing out nuclear power is too important an issue to be determined hastily.

또한위원회활동시한연장도검토할 만하다. 물론결정을너무오래끌필요는없지만탈원전은성급히결정하기에는너무도중요한문제다.

Jurors must have enough time to review all details related to our precarious energy conditions.

배심원들은충분한시간을갖고우리의불안한에너지환경과관련한모든자세한정보를검토해야한다.