Korea opens public survey to pick 300-member nuclear panel

The committee overseeing South Korea's public consultation on nuclear power will begin a nationwide telephone survey on Oct. 31 to recruit a 300-member citizens' panel, the environment ministry said Monday.

The survey, run through Nov. 14, will question 15,000 people aged 18 and older. Numbers are generated at random, covering mobile and landline phones, and the sample is drawn to match the population's regional, gender and age breakdowns, according to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. Calls will be placed every day including weekends, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Korea Efficiency Association Consulting, the polling agency chosen by the committee, will conduct the interviews. Respondents will be asked whether they are aware of the consultation, their views on future power demand and nuclear energy, and whether they are willing to join the panel.

From those who volunteer, 300 people will be selected by random draw, balanced across region, gender and age. The panel members will work through briefing materials and online lessons before meeting for a three-day deliberation from Dec. 11 to 13.

The committee urged anyone who receives a call to stay on the line, noting that its random dialing means any adult in the country can be reached. Responses will be used for statistical purposes only, and personal information will be handled under relevant laws.

The survey results will be released with the final outcome after the deliberation ends, so that they do not influence the panel's discussions, the committee said. The committee is chaired by Eun Jae-ho.