Chiairman & CEO Kim Ho-sung of Korea Nuclear Energy Agency (KNEA) reads a joint statement at a ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of Nuclear Safety & Promotion Day at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul on Jan. 23. In the declaration, representatives of nuclear power industry, academic and research circles pledged to devote themselves to contributing to promoting the creative economy and future growth engines, enduring energy security, responding to the post-2020 climate change regime, and pushing for innovations for public safety. (Photo:KNEA)

Dignitaries, including KHNP President Cho and Chairman & CEO Kim Ho-sung of Korea Nuclear Energy Agency (KNEA), pose together at the 5th anniversary event of Nuclear Safety & Promotion Day.

Nuclear power industry, academia and R&D circles issued a joint declaration in which they pledged to cope with the Post-2020 climate change regime; to strengthen energy security; innovate an environment for ensuring safety; ramp up communications with people so that nuclear power can contribute to spurring the creative economy; and create future growth engines. The issuance of the joint declaration came following an official ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of Nuclear Safety & Promotion Day at Lotte Hotel on Dec. 23. The official ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future and Planning.

In his commemorative speech at the ceremony, MOTIE Vice Minister Moon Jae-do said, “This year has seen a precious achievement in the whole cycle of nuclear power, but there are such pending tasks to be tackled as how to manage spent nuclear fuel and the securing of support from neighborhood residents, and communications are essential for a sustainable development of the nuclear industry.” 

Vice Minister Moon stressed the transparent release of information to the public as a way to promote sincere and smooth communications with people and neighborhood residents in order to resolve the pending challenging tasks the nuclear power industry is now facing. 

In his opening speech, KHNP President Cho Seok, concurrently KAIF chairman, said, “All of you are asked to put your whole heart and soul into expanding the development of the Korean nuclear power industry to the world and the future.”

President Lee Jong-in of Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) and 19 others were presented with prizes in recognition of their contributions to the development of the Korean nuclear power industry during the ceremony. The most coveted honor, the Order of Industrial Service, Bronze Tower went to KORAD President Lee for his roles in the establishment of a low- and intermediate-level radwaste treatment system. Chun Hwi-soo, head of the Safety Division at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., was awarded with the Order of Industrial Service, Tin Tower, while four others, including Kim Bong-hyun, chief of the Regulatory Inspection at the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, were honored with the Industrial Service Medal. 

Among roughly 300 people on hand at the ceremony were MOTIE Minister Yoon Sang-jick; MSIP Vice Minister Lee Suk-joon; KHNP President Cho Seok; and Chairman-CEO Kim Ho-sung of Korea Nuclear Energy Agency (KNEA).