Minister Choi Yang-hee of the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning (MSIP) speaks at a ceremony to mark the 6th anniversary of Nuclear Safety & Promotion Day.

Kim Gung-ku, a researcher at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), was presented with the Order of Science Technological Merit, Ungbi Medal in recognition of his contributions to the development of the Korean-designed System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor (SMART), while Senior Executive Vice President Kim Beom-nyon of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) was honored with the Order of Industrial Merit, Steel Tower for his leading roles in building the groundwork for integrated safety management for 30 nuclear units in operation. Kim Chan-jung was decorated with the Industrial Service Medal. 

Koo Chang-hoe, head of the Quality Management Division at KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co. (KNF), was presented with the presidential award in recognition of his contributions to the localization of nuclear fuels and production of nuclear fuel to the United Arab Emirates, while three KNF others, including Choi Choon-gyeong, general manager in charge of fuel transportation, each were presented with the minister of trade, industry and energy’s prize. They are among the 18 winners of orders and other government prizes presented during a ceremony to mark the 6th anniversary of Nuclear Safety & Promotion Day.

About 400 people, including government officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning (MSIP), and representatives from nuclear power industry and research circles, were on hand at the anniversary event held at the JW Mariat Seoul Hotel on Dec. 27. Among the participants were MSIP Minister Choi Yang-hee, MOTIE Vice Minister Woo Tae-hee, KAERI President Kim Jong-kyung and Chairman Lee Myung-chul of the Korean Association for Radiation Application.

In his commemorative speech at the event, MSIP Minister Choi said, “Korea, a half century in R&D on nuclear power, has made a tremendous feat of developing a research reactor with our own technology and exporting it to Jordan.” He called for the Korean nuclear power community to redouble efforts to transform public distrust into trust. “Securing nuclear power safety and nuclear power making people feel at home is the mission the Korean nuclear power community has to be committed to,” he said. 

The anniversary ceremony also coincided with a policy roundtable on nuclear power, titled “The 2050 Path of the Korean Nuclear Power,” and a special seminar on nuclear power safety, titled “Earthquakes in Gyeongju and Safety of Nuclear Power Units.” 

Chairman Hwang Joo-hoo of the Korean Nuclear Society (KNS); Prof. Kim Yong-gyun of Hanyang University; Prof. Chung Bum-jin of Kyunghee University; KHNP Executive Vice President Lee Jong-ho; KNS Vice President Lee Jong-ho; and KAERI Vice President Paek Won-pil spoke on three topics — Korean and foreign policy environment changes surrounding nuclear power; nuclear power’s roles in the development of Korean society; and challenging tasks of the Korean nuclear power community. 

Prof. Lee Jin-han of Korea University; Prof. Cho Yang-hee of Incheon University; Park Chang-joon of KHNP; Moon Il-whan of KEPCO E&C; and Choi In-gil, a researcher at KAERI, participated in the special nuclear power safety seminar. They touched upon three topics — characteristics of Gyeongju quakes and their impact on structures; Gyeongju quakes’ impact on nuclear power units and responses; and earthquake-resistant design of nuclear power units and safety evaluations. 

MSIP Minister Choi and prize winners pose for the camera at a ceremony to mark the 6th anniversary of Nuclear Safety & Promotion Day. (Photos: MSIP)