Dignitaries, including Vice Minister Lee Suk-joon of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Chairman Cho Suk of the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF), KNF President Lee Jae-hee, Rep. Min Hyun-ju of the Saenuri Party, former science minister Chung Keun-mo, ex-KEPCO president Lee Jong-hoon, pose for a group photo session at a New Year’s gathering of those in the atomic industry at the Palace Hotel in Seoul on Jan. 16. (Photo:KAIF)
Chairman Cho Suk of the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) called for the Korean atomic power industry to put its heart and soul into regaining the public’s trust.
“The atomic power industry is asked to make concerted efforts and throw their heart and soul into regaining public trust and dealing with pending issues wisely,” Cho said. “If several people join forces, they can achieve what one man cannot do.”
Chairman Cho called for those in the industry to join forces in restoring confidence and achieving a renaissance.
KAIF Chairman Cho made the remarks at a New Year’s gathering of those in the atomic industry at the Palace Hotel in Seoul on Jan. 16. Among those on hand at the event were 1st Vice Minister Lee Suk-joon of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, KAIF Chairman Cho, concurrently president of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), and Rep. Lee Byung-joo of the ruling Saenuri Party.
Many energy public entities have relocated to provincial areas. Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) moved to Naju last year. KHNP is to embark on an “era of Gyeongju” at year-end. Stressing the early settlement into a new environment following the relocation, KAIF Chairman Cho cited KHNP’s 2015 management buzzword “sujeokseokcheon,” which means “that with persistence, a drop of water hollows out the stone.”
Looking back at last year, the atomic power industry made many achievements and built a foundation for a new leap forward despite difficult conditions, Cho said.
Shin Kori Nuclear Power Units 1 & 2 and Shin Wolsong Unit 1 have had a long-time hiatus caused by quality control issues, but they have resumed operations. And the cable of Shin Kori Unit 3 has been successfully replaced.
Shin Wolsong Unit 2 has contributed to stabilizing a power supply, so far, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission’s approval of the use of the low- and immediate-level radwaste treatment center in Gyeongju has eased a shortage of temporary radwaste storage facilities at each nuclear power complex.
Citing a memorable case, Cho said KHNP has talked residents in Ulchin through the implementation of eight alternative projects and has reached a dramatic compromise through discussion, solving the long-standing pending issue that had been at odds for 15 years. The deal is expected to have a positive impact on the pushing of new nuclear power projects in Yeongdeok and Samcheok, he said.
KHNP saw its power unit operation indices improve, including a 10 percentage point rise to 85 percent in nuclear power unit utilization ratio, and the company made a feat of changing its operating profit from a swath of losses to more 1.5 trillion won in surplus.
KAIF Chairman Cho said KHNP will ramp up the function of a department specializing in cyber security to prevent cyber attacks similar to the one the company underwent late last year. The company will reinforce countermeasures against outside invaders by outfitting it with advanced technology.
With the commercial operation of Shin Wolsong Nuclear Power Unit 2 and Shin Kori Unit 3 slated for 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.
Cho said he will take office as the chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators this October, and Korea will host its General Assembly in 2017. He said he would devote himself to demonstrating global leadership suitable to Korea being amongst the top five global nuclear operator countries.
