Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) has been strengthening countermeasures against outside cyberspace introducers to prevent a hacking incident similar to the one that took place earlier this year when hackers stole documents.
Reporting mid-term steps to overhaul cyberspace management at a meeting with reporters last Dec. 28 and during his report to the National Assembly Industry, Trade and Energy Committee, KHNP President Cho Suk reaffirmed the significance of the safe operation of nuclear power units and the need to dramatically overhaul their in-house information management system in the wake of the latest cyberspace hacking.
As a first step to ensure cyberspace safety, KHNP President Cho cited the inauguration of a cyber safety committee, headed by the KHNP president, which consists of 10-odd external and internal cyberspace safety experts. The committee, serving as a control tower for cyberspace safety, will take stock of the current statues of cyberspace safety on a quarterly basis and recommend ways of fixing loopholes. KHNP will inaugurate a department responsible to oversee information safety at power plants, which will be authorized to demand disciplinary actions against those who violate cyberspace safety rules.
Cyber safety departments will be expanded or inaugurated and manpower will be augmented from the current 53 to some 70 in order to secure the nation’s premier cyberspace safety capabilities. A given portion of employees majoring in IT-related disciplines will be selected.
KHNP plans to strengthen the approval of USB access at power units’ control systems while upgrading facilities prone to viruses’ attacks and old-type operating regimes with the latest ones. Mock exercise scenarios will be developed and simulated exercises will be conducted on a regular basis as part of efforts to reinforce preparedness against cyberspace attacks.
KHNP will establish a mid- to long-term information management plan, tentatively named “Security Revolution 2015” in March.
KHNP’s Call to Restore Public Trust
KHNP Cho delivered his New Year’s message and set KHNP’s 2015 management buzzword as “sujeokseokcheon,” which means “that with persistence, a drop of water hollows out the stone.”
First, President Cho called for the organization to regain public trust, its core value.
“Our foremost core value is ultimate safety. In order to make it a success, there needs to be technology, physically, and timeless integrity with a strong sense of ethics awareness spiritually, and mutual respect will enable the world’s premier technology and integrity. On top of these, we have to be committed to our social responsibility as a public entity,” he said. “Let’s make KHNP a company beloved by people through promotion of co-prosperity with regional society and active social contribution activities. We have to humble ourselves as public servants and serve people until we meet public expectations, as shown higher public expectations at the time of the cyberspace hacking case.”
Second, he urged his executives and staff members to establish a mid- and long-term vision of becoming the world’s premier company. With the commercial operation of Shin Wolsong Nuclear Power Unit 2 and Shin Kori Unit 3 slated to begin later this year, Korea will have a total of 25 power units in operation. He stressed the establishment of an integrated management system designed to ensure the efficient management of more than 30 nuclear power units in the future.
KHNP strives to make the UAE nuclear power project a success and sign an operating support service agreement to be charged with related services following the dedication of four UAE nuclear power units as part of its efforts to expand growth, he said.
Figures released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) showed that the value of the global market of decommissioning old nuclear power units is forecast to surge to some 1,000 trillion won by 2050. “We plan to secure design and technology for decommissioning nuclear power plants by 2017. The company plans to proactively enter the overseas hydro electric power generation market while pursuing a mid- and long-term globalization,” Cho said.
Third, Cho called for the active execution of pending issues, including the planned dedication of Shin Kori Nuclear Power Unit 3. Lastly, he urged his executives and staff members to promote communication and co-prosperity.
