The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), a
state-run corporation, is the only electric utility in Korea. The function
of KEPCO is, as a utility, to supply cheap electricity of good quality to
customers and take a leading role in encouraging the development of the
nuclear industry in areas suchas architect/engineering (A/E) and the localization
of equipment and materials. KEPCO established the Korea Power Engineering
Co. (KOPEC) in order to increase/E capability in 1975. One of the other
KEPCO subsidiaries, co-shared with KAERI, is the Korea Nuclear Fuel Co.
(KNFC), which has produced 200tons of nuclear fuel for PWRs annually since
1989.
As for the manufacture of equipment related to nuclear components, Korea
Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd. (KHIC) has
already been designated and supported by the government not only for manufacturing
nuclear reactors, turbine-generators and components but also for supervising plant construction
and erection works.
Nuclear Policy and Development
The Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy
Korea became affiliated with the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) in August 1975 to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Since then, bilateral or multilateral agreements related to the application of
safeguards have been signed with the IAEA, the US., France, Canada, Germany, and
Australia, while the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapon (NPT) was
ratified on April 23, 1975.
The Government has established and maintained a national
safeguards system for nuclear material and other materials subject to the NPT.
These materials are not only used for peaceful purposes, but have also been
verified by IAEA full scope safeguards for all nuclear facilities and materials
in Korea.
In line with this, President Roh Tae Woo declared in
November1991, that "Korea will use nuclear energy solely for peaceful purposes
and will not manufacture, possess, store, deploy, or use nuclear weapons". Korea
also promised to submit all of its nuclear facilities and materials to
comprehensive international inspection.
In Korea, the policy of developing and utilizing nuclear
energy will be set and conducted based on the four fundamental goals as follows.
This policy is based on the philosophy of harmonizing with nature and respecting
human life, and will contribute not only to the development of the national
economy and technology but also to the improvement of human welfare by the safe
utilization of nuclear energy solely for peaceful purposes.
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Stability of the
energy supply will be enhanced by establishing nuclear energy as a major
resource in producing domestic electricity.
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Self-supporting
technology for nuclear reactors and non-proliferating nuclear fuel cycle will
be established through systematic research and development of nuclear energy.
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The nuclear industry
will be fostered as an export industry based on public participation and
creativity, securing international competitiveness through a high level of
nuclear technology.
Nuclear Power Program
In the course of its constant and rapid economic growth for the past 30 years
largely due to the national development strategies, Korea, with its poor
resources, could not help but be dependent on other countries for its energy
resources. And since Korea's domestic demand of electricity is expected to more
than double by 2006, Korea will most likely have to continue to depend upon the
import of major energy sources for power generation.
In light of this, in Korea the constant construction of nuclear power plants is
indispensable for a stable supply of energy because nuclear energy is unique in
that it is a quasi-self-reliant energy source.
Since the first commercial operation of the Kori nuclear power plant in 1978,
Korea has built and currently operates nine nuclear units including one heavy
water reactor (PHWR) and eight pressurized light water reactors (PWR), thus
making this country 10th among the countries that utilize nuclear energy. The
total nuclear installed capacity was, 7,616MWeat the end of 1993, which
accounted for about 27.5 percent of the total installed generation capacity and
which supplied a little over 40 percent of the total electricity generation. By
2006, the Korean government plans to bring another 14 units on line, including
three PHWR and four PWRs currently under commissioning or construction. Under
this program, Korea will be able to keep the capacity of its own nuclear power
plant facilities at about 40 percent of total electricity generation capacity.
The Ulchin Units 3 & 4, which are under construction, will be the first Korea
standard nuclear power plants designed and built with our own technology.
Through the improvement of existing PWR's, Korea will develop next generation
reactor technology by 2001. The reactor development will go to conceptual design
and FOAK engineering.
Nuclear Research and Development
Korea has a 30 year history in nuclear research and development.
Until the late 1970s it focused on research and development of radioisotope
utilization and radiation applications in the fields of agriculture, medicine
and industry. Studies on reactor physics and material properties were also
conducted, mainly by using TRIGA Mark II and III research reactors.
Ever since the first nuclear power project in Korea was undertaken in the early
1970s, the nuclear power program has grown steadily. From the beginning of the
1980s, the major direction of nuclear R&D was changed from theoretical nuclear
research to practical nuclear power technology development.
With its accumulated knowledge in the nuclear field, the Korean government
established a long-term nuclear R&D program that will be implemented over the
next ten years from 1992 to 2001. This program is aimed at enhancing Korea's
technological capability to the level of the nuclear advanced countries in the
early 2000s, and the establishment of self-sufficiency in nuclear energy supply
through the enhancement of nuclear technology. In implementing this program,
Korea is determined as ever to adhere to the policy of the peaceful use of
nuclear energy, based on active international cooperation.
Through active participation of R&D projects in nuclear power plants,
self-reliance in nuclear power technology will be better achieved by the turn of
the century. With this in mind, technology for the design and manufacture of
CANDU fuel was developed by KAERI with extensive technical cooperation with
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). Based on this successful experience,
KAERI is jointly carrying out NSSS design and engineering work for PWR plants
with Combustion Engineering (C.E.) of the US., high burn-up PWR fuel design with
Siemens/KWU of Germany, and NSSS design for the CANDU Plant with AECL of Canada.
Nuclear
Safety
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Nuclear Safety
Policy
Since the
establishment of research reactors in 1962 and the first commercial operation
of a nuclear power plant in 1978, no accident, including the discharge of
radioactive materials, has in Korea occurred in Korea. More over, the quantity
of discharged radioactive materials in normal operation was much lower than
the permitted limit.
Such results were achieved through: the governmental efforts for reasonable
safety control; public demands on nuclear safety; research and development by
industry, educational institutes, and research institutes; and the
reinforcement of safety activities by utilities. However, as Korea's nuclear
power plant program expands to meet increasing energy demands, the safety of
these nuclear power plants becomes an important issue.
Thus, for developing and utilizing nuclear energy, safety and protection shall
be recognized as the first priority, and every effort to enhance nuclear
safety will be exerted.
To protect national life, property, and environment from nuclear accident, a
proper attitude toward nuclear safety should be developed emphasizing the
value of safety.
All these efforts are on the basis of the crucial assumption that it is
impossible to develop and utilize nuclear energy without safety.
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Regulation and
Licensing Procedures
The nuclear
regulatory procedures in Korea were made from a combination of those of the US
and Japan. The first step is licensing on construction permit. The
environmental impact report and the preliminary safety analysis report
prepared by the applicants are forwarded to KINS via MOST for review and
comments by the experts of KINS, and then are approved by the government
(MOST) following AEC deliberation. An operation license is also issued
following a review of the final safety analysis report and technical
specifications prepared by the applicants.
Enforcement and regulation of the Atomic Energy Law is provided by a prime
ministerial ordinance which details the provisions commissioned by the Atomic
Energy Law and the Enforcement Decree of that Law. Specific requirements are
imposed through this enforcement regulation.
The current
regulations stipulate three licensing stages for the nuclear power plant:
sitting and limited work authorization; the construction permit; and the
operation license. The regulation also requires that any person or authority
wishing to construct and operate installations for unclear energy in Korea is
required to obtain a license from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Before issuing a license to the utility, MOST requires sufficient information
from the person or organization to show that the required technical, health,
safety, and security standards stipulated in the Prime Ministerial Ordinance
are met and maintained.
