Managers at the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) Wolsong Nuclear Power Headquarters who hung a banner containing rude phrases toward local residents, such as "you ate the free noodles," have been replaced.
KHNP said on the 2nd that it dismissed three key executives from their posts, including the head of the Wolsong Nuclear Power Headquarters, the director of external cooperation, and the head of regional cooperation. It held them responsible for the banner controversy that recently erupted in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang.
KHNP also plans to discipline the related senior employees in accordance with regulations along with these personnel measures.
Earlier, on Sept. 15, the Wolsong Nuclear Power Headquarters put up banners at 16 locations in downtown Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, bearing phrases such as "Over five years, the Wolsong Nuclear Power Headquarters paid 219 billion won in Gyeongju local government tax, right?" and "During this cherry blossom marathon, you enjoyed the noodles that the Wolsong headquarters provided for free!"
Afterward, citizens who saw the banners protested, and the banners were taken down the same day. Even so, the controversy continued, and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok posted on social media (SNS) that he would check what happened.
In response, Jeon Dae-uk, acting president of KHNP, held a press conference at the Gyeongju Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sept. 22 and apologized to the public and Gyeongju residents.