Seminar on the Future Activities of RCARO for Sustainable Development

1
Requirements for Atomic Energy Development-
Personal Views from Korean Experiences -

• Bum-Jin CHUNG
• Cheju National Univ., KOREA
• bjchung_at_cheju.ac.kr

2
Introduction

• Bum-Jin CHUNG, Prof. of CNU since 2002
• Received Ph.D in Nuclear Engineering, SNU (1994)
• Deputy Director of MOST (1995-2002)
• Visiting Researcher in Manchester Univ.
  (1999-2001)
• Exchange Professor in Florida Univ. (2006-2007)
• Special request from RCA RO
• To prepare a lecture to share experiences with
  RCA members
• Not Facts But Insights!
• Review of Korean experiences
• Facts ? Analyses ? Personal Views ? Insights
• Premise Personal Views

3
TRIGA Mark ? (1962)

• First nuclear criticality in March 1962.
• Adventurous Investment
• 50 donation from the USA
• 50 1/3 of Korean national RD budget
• No cost/benefit study performed!
• (Just saw the potential of the facility)

? Misunderstanding Mis-judgement of the
Political Leader ( Ex. Research reactors
increase in the Middle East area
)
4
Start of Commercial NPP Operation

• 16 years after the TRIGA-Mark II
• Not RD but purchased products.
• Based upon the need for the electricity for
  national development
• WH PWR?CANDU ? CE PWR
• Various reactor types?
• Supplier Abundant Market
• Financing needs
• ? Inevitable waste!
• ? Good partner needed!

1978 Kori WH type PWR
1983 Wolsong - CANDU PHWR
5
Needs for the Electricity
Nations economic growth lead the needs for the
electricity.
? Nuclear Power increase!
6
Standardization KSNP (OPR1000)

• Project formulated in 1984.
• Purpose of the Project
• ? To build standard NPP?
• ? To feed KOPEC?
• Adventurous investment
• Skeptical views from inside
• Difficult to refer CE type NPP

? Successful completion (Still skeptical
views) ? Soundness of Nuclear Society
7
Self-reliant Nuclear Fuel

• Nuclear Fuel Manufacture
• CANDU (1987), PWR(1990)
• Not from a sophisticated RD
• But from copying by Trial Error
• Needs for fuel lead development
• The KEPCO and the KAERI went hand in hand leading
  the governments.
• Momentum supplied by the Link between Military
  Politicians

8
Long Term Nuclear RD Program(1992)

• 10 Year Comprehensive Nuclear RD program
• 1. Nuclear reactor design nuclear fuel, 2.
  Nuclear safety, 3. Radioactive waste management,
  4. Radiation/RI application, 5. Fundamental/basic
  nuclear technology
• 15 year after the NPP commercial operation
• From Turn-key ? To Self reliance
• NPP first, RD later
• The Utility Company The Government Granted
• the RD Needs from Nuclear Society.
• Link between nuclear society and government!

9
Hanaro Research Reactor (1994)

• The only multi-purpose research reactor replacing
  TRIGA Mark II III
• The Official Completion in 1994
• Main reactor only
• Long way to go after the completion (Beam ports,
  RI production facilities, BNCT, Cold Neutron
  Source, Fuel Test Loop, etc.)
• ? Still going!

? The government didnt knew it takes that
long! ? The nuclear society seemed to use the
government!
10
Comprehensive Nuclear Promotion Plan(1997)

• National Plan for Nuclear Promotion
• 5 Year Rolling Plan
• Including Commercial NPP, Nuclear RD, Nuclear
  Safety, Nuclear Safeguard, Nuclear Policy
• Legal Plan by the Atomic Energy Act
• Cooperation between MOST MOCIE
• Ministry of Science Technology
• Ministry of Commerce, Industry Energy
• ? Cooperation among the Governments

11
KNGR - APR 1400 (Gen. ?)

• Next Generation Reactor Development Program
• Skeptical Views (KSNP Syst. 80, KNGR Syst.
  80)
• Evolutionary development of KSNP
• Revolutionary development of KNGR
• Different voices
• within the KEPCO
• between KEPCO KINS
• ? Do both!
• (Successful Governance)

12
GIF - Gen.IV International Forum

• International RD Program for Gen IV Reactor
• Formulated and lead by the U.S.A.
• Vulnerable nature of the Program
• Korean Situation (No direction )
• Reluctant participation
• No extra funding, Sacrificing National RD
  Program
• GNEP (Global Nuclear Energy Partnership)
• ? Chaotic proceed! Actions lead by small group of
  
• experts who participate in the program.

13
NPP Export

• Ultimate target of Korean RD since 1992
• Presidential Policy at the moment
• No Action Plan from the Governments
• MKE simply takes part in biddings.
• MEST establishes the export system for RI.
• No Preparation from the nuclear society.
• which have been arguing Nuclear Renaissance.
• No organizational effort so far.

14
Green Growth

• National Energy Plan (2008)
• Nuclear energy Renewable energy increase!
• Energy Mix is determined as an input for the
  first time of Korea History
• ? Personnel Preference of the President of Korea
• (No support activity from the nuclear
  society)
• ? Growth by external helps!

15
Summary

• Misunderstanding Mis-judgement of the Political
  Leader
• Inevitable waste!
• Nations economic growth
• Soundness of Nuclear Society
• Momentum supplied by the Link between Military
  politicians
• Link between nuclear society and government!
• The nuclear society seemed to use the government!
• Cooperation among the Governments
• Successful governance
• Growth by external helps

16
Conclusion(1/2)

• History is not so logical as a novel.
• The development policy may be dependent upon the
  situation of the society level of economic
  development, national technological capability,
  government system...
• Need proper interaction and friction among the
  governments, utility, regulatory body, research
  institute, academy.
• As the size of the industry increases, the
  government system should also change.
• Korea seems to be in her transition stage (Stay
  or Further Develop?)

17
Conclusion(2/2)

• Korean nuclear development history is reviewed.
• Important milestone facts were presented.
• Simple analyses were performed based upon
  personal views.
• Hope to give some insights.
• ? Good cooperation partners are important, who
  can deliver insights from experience.