On the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, citizen groups in Gwangju and Jeonnam staged a performance to advocate for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Forming part of a coalition named 'Nuclear-Free World: Gwangju-Jeonnam Action,' 31 organizations participated in the event, displaying a large map indicating all nuclear power plants in South Korea while voicing their call for the termination of these facilities' operations. The performance concluded with a symbolic action pushing away models of new nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs), reflecting their opposition to these energy sources.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Action group criticized the current administration for perpetuating the nuclear promotion policies initiated by the previous government. They highlighted the recent announcements regarding the construction of two large nuclear power plants and SMRs while also addressing plans to extend the operational life of nine aging nuclear facilities, including Kori Unit 3 and 4, and the installation of dry storage for spent nuclear fuel at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant. The group emphasized that both SMRs and new nuclear plants are not viable solutions to immediate energy shortages, arguing that the government should abandon its nuclear infrastructure expansion policies for the sake of safety and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

In their statement, they pointed out that the government’s strategy treats the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions merely as energy colonies that support the power demands of the metropolitan areas, subjecting local residents to risks associated with aging nuclear power plants, including safety issues, radiation exposure, and social conflicts. They expressed that the local communities are suffering from the consequences of these policies, which include environmental degradation and community disintegration, and called for a re-evaluation of the nuclear energy policy and a shift towards renewable energy solutions to ensure local safety and security.