SOUTH Korean city Samcheok has rejected plans to build a nuclear power station in an unofficial referendum.

Around 85 per cent of the of the 28,867 residents who cast ballots said No, according to the volunteers who administered the referendum that the government has rejected as having no legal weight.

Turnout was 68 per cent of the 42,488 who registered — from the 61,000 on the regular electoral role. Supporters of the nuclear plant called for a boycott of the vote.