Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) Chairman Cho Seok, and Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) 

Minister Choi Mun-kee join other notables in cutting a cake at a New Year’s gathering 

with those in the Korean nuclear power industry at Seoul Palace Hotel in Seoul on Jan. 10. Among 

the participants are President Park Gun-chul of KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS); 

President Park Koo-woun of KEPCO E&C; President Lee Jong-in of Korea Radioactive Waste Agency; 

President Choi Yeu-geun of KEPCO KPS; President Han Key-sun of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction; 

and President Kim Moo-hwan of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety.

Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) Chairman Cho Seok, in his speech at a New Year’s gathering with those in the Korean nuclear power industry, said, “The nuclear power industry has suffered huge difficulties in recent years, and I hope this year will be a proud year for regaining the honor.”

MSIP Minister Choi gives a speech at the New Year’s gathering with those in the 

Korean nuclear power industry. (photos: courtesy of KAIF, article by S. Y. Kim)

Cho, concurrently president of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., made the remark at a New Year’s gathering with those in the Korean nuclear power industry at Seoul Palace Hotel in Seoul on Jan. 10. He took the helm at KAIF, replacing Korea Electric Power Corp. President Cho Hwan-eik.

“The media and the people give us the cold shoulder, but don’t let it get you down. We need to do some soul searching through thorough self-reflection,” said the newly inaugurated KAIF chairman, adding, “We have to devote all our energies to enhancing nuclear safety, and a corporate culture attaching top priority to ensuring safety has to take root.”

In particular, Cho stressed that restoring public trust is significant, adding that corruption in the nuclear power industry may be a cause that could undermine safety, and an environment of integrity can be built only when the whole of the nuclear power industry does away with all irregularities.

Lastly, Cho said, the nuclear power industry should make preparations for the future, and all those in the industry should join forces in the successful building of new nuclear power units and others under construction in the United Arab Emirates.

Science, ICT and Future Planning Minister Choi Mun-kee said in his New Year’s speech, “As Korea and the United States have conducted joint studies on technological, economic, and non-proliferation assurance on the pyroprocessing project since 2011, they are now building a foundation for treating spent nuclear fuel.”

The minister went on to say, “We have to endeavor to do away with misgivings over new nuclear power technologies such as treatment of spent nuclear fuel and pyroprocessing and build a public consensus on the peaceful uses of nuclear power.”

Among some 230 people on hand at the event were MSIP Minister Choi; KAIF Chairman Cho; President Park Gun-chul of KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS); President Park Koo-woun of KEPCO E&C; President Lee Jong-in of Korea Radioactive Waste Agency; President Choi Yeu-geun of KEPCO KPS; President Han Key-sun of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction; and President Kim Moo-hwan of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety.