아시아 12/01/04 Anger over radioactive leak..Anti-nuclear association in Busan bemoans lack of safety measures..ucanews.com staff, Seoul

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Anger over radioactive leak

Anti-nuclear association in Busan bemoans lack of safety measures

ucanews.com staff, Seoul
Korea
January 4, 2012

The Anti-Nuclear Association's press conference about a radiation leakage accident in front of the Busan City Hall.

An anti-nuclear body yesterday accused local government officials of failing to implement effective safety measures, following a recent radiation leak at a factory in Busan.

In a press conference outside City Hall, the Anti-Nuclear Association in Busan said the leak would not have occurred if stringent regulations and inspections were implemented.

The association was referring to a Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety report issued earlier yesterday, which said radioactive material had leaked from a machine that had developed a crack at a factory in the Noksan Industrial Complex in Busan on December 30.

It also demanded medical checks for all workers at the industrial complex.

“There are about 30,000 workers in the area. This accident poses a serious threat to their health,” the association asserted.

Association spokesperson Jeong Su-hee said the leak was an accident waiting to happen.

“The factory responsible for the leak was warned about possible dangers from the Institute of Nuclear Safety during an inspection last March. But they did not correct any defects and the inspection was not followed up,” she said.

“We plan to conduct an independent investigation into the accident and discover whether other factories are using radioactive material,” she added.

Church representatives from the association also voiced their concern.

“We will keep monitoring radiation levels in suspected contaminated areas,” said Father Vincentius Kim Jun-han, president of Busan diocese’s Committee for Justice and Peace.

He said his committee will continue various campaigns against the use of nuclear power.

Fears over nuclear power have grown in South Korea since the Fukushima power plant disaster in neighboring Japan last year.