Toward Another 30 Years-Atoms for People

Our government promulgated the Atomic Energy Law, established Office of Atomic Energy as an independent government agency, founded Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and started to build Korea's first experimental reactor, Triga MarkⅡ, supplied by the US. In 1950s, such a series of sustained actions to utilize atomic energy peacefully are unparalleled commitment and actions by a developing nation. Eventually, the Republic of Korea started commercial operation of the Kori 1 nuclear power plant in 1978. Korea became the 21st nation operating a nuclear power generating plant.

In 1979, the TMI nuclear power plant accident created a major crisis in the nuclear power industry worldwide and, in particular, in the USA. After the TMI severe accident, the nuclear industry experts emphasized the importance of operators' training and strongly recommended standardization of NPP designs and operation procedures. The Korean government adopted the recommendation and initiated the standardized design project of the Korean NPPs in 1982. Korea Power Engineering Company (the present KEPCO E&C) carried out its feasibility study under the support from Ministry of Science and Technology.

The study concluded that Korean standardized NPP should be 1,000MWe-size Pressurized Light Water Reactor (PWR). Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) proceeded with the international open bidding and selected Combustion Engineering's System 80 as the reference plant for Korea Standardized Nuclear Plant (KSNP). The KSNP Design was a collaborative international project jointly carried out by KEPCO nuclear group consisted of KEPCO, KOPEC, KAERI, KHIC (Korea Heavy Industry Company) and KNF (Korea Nuclear Fuel Company). CE complied with the requirement of full technology transfer provision.

KSNP subsequently evolved into OPR1000, APR1000 and APR1400 designs. The KEPCO nuclear group has successfully planned, designed, constructed, operated, maintained and managed the project over the past 30 years. The NPP Standardization policy and its successful execution have been providing the motive power for the fast-increasing energy-demand of the advancing Korean export-oriented industrialization.

In December, 2009, the Korean NPP group headed by KEPCO was chosen as the contractor for UAE's Nuclear Power Project, the Barakah NPP. It was a stunning result of the international competition. The Korean team, a second comer in the worldwide NPP industry, was chosen to be the main contractor of the biggest NPP project of the 21st century over the strong competitions from USA, France, Japan and Russia. The Korean APR1400 became the icon for nuclear power renaissance to answer the impending threat of global warming and climate change. UAE, the fifth largest oil exporting nation, chose to build nuclear power plants for the long-term economic reasons and sustainable energy-environment solution.

KEPCO Nuclear Group has been successful to perform the on-time, within-the-budget Korean NPP projects, which gained the global reputation. Subsequently after the award of the Barakah NPP project, Jordan awarded the research reactor project to KAERI and lately Saudi Arabia agreed to develop and build the Korea-designed SMART small (100MWe) passive safety NPPs. The 21st Nuclear Renaissance is becoming a reality. Korea has become the global Nuclear Electricity Producing Nation.

The global nuclear community recognizes the absolute requirement of impeccable nuclear safety in design, construction, operation, maintenance and management of NPPs. The Fukushima accident was a disaster of the early NPP-design of 1960s combined with inadequate risk management and risk governance of the potential Nature Hazard-Technological Infrastructure (NA-TECH) threats. After TMI, USA strengthened nuclear regulatory administration and operational safety measures. After Chernobyl, Russia terminated the RBMK plants which lacked the full defense-in-depth principle for NPP. The Fukushima accident has shown the absolute commitment and implementation of risk-governance of potential NA-Tech threats.

After Fukushima, the global technical community has been collectively working together to strengthen safety culture and risk governance. As a charter member of the IAEA’s International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) and a founder of International Risk Governance Commission (IRGC), I am confident that the Global Scientific and Technological Community will be successful in devising and executing nuclear power systems, which would be endorsed by the global public as the acceptable short and long term techno-economic option for the advancing global development.

We should encourage the people that our civilization is science and technology-based and the advancing science, technology and innovation system could and should provide the techno-economic solution for individuals, families, societies and nations. Indeed we should proclaim and strive toward “Atoms for People” for the entire mankind. Such a drive is feasible and doable to achieve the safe and compatible Atoms for People. 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.

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 the peace and happiness of the people.