Dioceses set up anti-nuclear group in Korea

DIOCESES in South Korea yesterday announced the establishment of a new anti-nuclear group supported by bishops.

The new group, the East Coast Solidarity for Anti-Nuke, was formed by the Justice and Peace committees of the four dioceses of Andong, Busan, Daegu and Wonju.

Father Vincentius Kim Jun-han said they hope the anti-nuclear movement may gradually promote similar sentiments in the Catholic Church against nuclear power or weapons and in favour of peace.

The president of the Committee for Justice and Peace of Busan diocese was elected as one of the four co-representatives of the group at the inaugural meeting held at Yeonghae parish in Yeongdeok, Andong diocese.

He said they will ask the government to cancel its plans to construct new nuclear power plants in Samcheok and Yeongdeok. They will also demand the closure of existing nuclear reactors in Wolseong and Gori and release of information about them.

Korea currently has 21 nuclear reactors at four nuclear power plants and is building or planning 11 more, according to Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power.

Report from ucanews.com