The panel has been deliberating President Moon Jae-in's proposal to abandon the Shingori-5 and Shingori-6 reactors in the southeastern city of Ulsan as part of efforts to reduce the nation's dependence on nuclear energy.

The reactors were about 28.8 percent complete before construction was suspended in July.

The government established the independent commission and charged it with gauging public opinion on the proposal. Government officials said that they will fully endorse whatever recommendation the commission makes on Friday.

Separate opinion polls have shown the public is nearly evenly split with differences of less than five percentage points.

The proposal to scrap work on the reactors sparked heated debate in a country that relies on nuclear reactors for about a third of its electricity.

Proponents say the country should phase out nuclear power for safety and environmental reasons, but opponents say it will lead to a shortage in power supply and a spike in electricity prices, and that too much money has already been spent on their construction. (Yonhap)