Pohang residents protest diversion of nuclear safety funds

Residents of Janggi-myeon are organizing a protest at Pohang City Hall to demand the proper use of regional resource facility taxes intended for nuclear safety. The protest follows a provincial audit revealing that Pohang City allocated approximately 85% of the funds—totaling about 8.48 billion won—to its general account rather than dedicated safety measures.

The funds, which are distributed as the radiation emergency planning zone expanded from 10km to 30km around the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, are intended to enhance disaster prevention and safety infrastructure. Residents are calling for tangible improvements, such as evacuation spaces, protective facilities, emergency routes, and radiation monitoring systems, rather than the diversion of funds into general municipal projects.