Thirty years have passed since Korea’s first nuclear power plant — Kori Unit No. 1 — went into commercial service on April 29, 1978. During that time, the Korean nuclear power industry has been evolving from strength to strength to become the world’s fifth biggest nuclear power nation and has achieved technology self-sufficiency in many areas.
The Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc. (KAIF) held its annual meeting in celebration of the historic moment in history of the Korean nuclear power industry. The 30th Korea Atomic Power Annual Conference attracted some 600 prominent global experts on atomic power to COEX InterContinental Hotel in Seoul from April 28 to April 29. The annual meeting also coincided with the 2015 International Nuclear Exhibition.
Spectators were given an opportunity look at the past, present and the future of the Korean atomic power industry. True to the theme of “Toward Another 30 Years: Atoms for People,” some 30 global atomic power experts and panelists discussed ways of promoting public outreach to atomic power and overcoming challenges for sustainable development. The foreign experts come from eight countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and China.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) President Cho Suk, who is concurrently KAIC chairman, delivered a speech at the opening session of the annual conference in which he looked back at the chronology of the Korean nuclear power industry and its achievements.
“Thanks to strenuous R&D, technology sufficiency and accumulated operation expertise and experiences, Korea has 23 nuclear power units in operation to rise to fifth nuclear power country in the world,” KHNP President Cho said.
Korea’s energy master plan, announced by the government, aims to raise the ratio of nuclear power to 29 percent by 2035. To this end, Korea will have to ensure the safe operation of nuclear power units while constructing new units without a hitch, Cho said.
He added that Korea has to redouble its efforts to explore foreign markets, and the nuclear power industry needs to make concerted efforts to export more overseas markets following the sale of four nuclear power units to the United Arab Emirates in 2009 and a research nuclear reactor to Jordan recently.
President Cho said KHNP would reinforce awareness on safety and public outreach activities toward nuclear power by taking its cue from lessons from the Fukushima nuclear disaster. President Cho also stressed the need for reading the public’s mind at a speech at a welcoming reception in the evening of April 28.
Former Korean minister of science and technology Chung Keun-mo was one of six prominent speakers that spoke on at the opening session on Day 1.
Speaking on the theme of “Toward Another 30 Years: Atoms for the People,” ex-minister Chung said, “Indeed we should proclaim and strive toward ‘Atoms for the People’ for all of mankind. Such a drive is feasible and doable. For the global goal, our professionals in science, technology and innovation should emphasize the importance of dedicated service and the global value of selfless devotion.” He said, “Our generation dedicated our lives for the long-term vision of the science-based societal development. We should continue to operate our technology-based civilization for the universal welfare and happiness of the mankind. ‘Atoms for people’ can be the founding base for peace and happiness of the people.”
Reza Moridi, minister of research and innovation in Ontario, Canada, spoke on the current status of nuclear energy R&D in Canada. “We look forward to new opportunities across a range of sectors, including energy,” he said. “Ontario and Korea share a number of energy priorities, among them nuclear power, grid modernization, conservation and renewable. Working together, we can spread the use of safe, clean, reliable energy, while at the same time, strengthening the economies of Korea and Ontario.”
Malcolm Grimston, Senior Research Fellow of the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, U.K., touched on the topic “Irrational public or irrational industry.”
“Despite being the safest energy technology yet developed, nuclear power is regarded by a significant number of people in many countries as too dangerous to use despite its obvious advantages in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on imported fossil fuel,” Grimston said. “The traditional response of the ‘nuclear family’ to this apparent paradox has been to apply ever higher safety standards (at ever increasing cost) and to stress the steps taken to ‘improve safety,’ while at the same bemoaning the public’s ‘irrational’ fear of radiation. The solution is often thought to be to ‘educate’ the public to degree level understand of nuclear science and technology in the belief that this will allay fears,” he added.
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