Jaehoon Jeong, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, "Nuclear and Renewables Should Not Throw Stones at Each Other... Energy Must Coexist"

Attended the '2020 Nuclear Industry New Year's Meeting'... Urged "Mutual Criticism Restraint"
"South Korea's Nuclear Technology is a Global Public Good for Fine Dust Reduction"
Emphasized Strengthening Government R&D Support, Nuclear Plant Decommissioning, Waste Disposal, and Safety

Jaehoon Jung, Chairman of the Korea Nuclear Industry Association Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Jung Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (Chairman of the Korea Nuclear Industry Association), emphasized "energy coexistence" on the 10th to mark the New Year, urging, "The nuclear power industry and the renewable energy industry should refrain from criticizing each other based on unverified information."

At the '2020 Nuclear Industry New Year's Meeting' held that morning at the Sheraton Seoul Palace Gangnam Hotel, President Jung called for an end to baseless slander between the nuclear industry and the renewable energy industry.

He stated, "We should not piece together stories from newspapers or the National Assembly to throw stones at each other; we must acknowledge one another," adding, "For energy coexistence, communicating and recognizing each other will lead to better outcomes."

President Jung also emphasized the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies within the nuclear industry ecosystem. He said, "Although the nuclear industry is facing difficulties this New Year, how about reversing our thinking? I hope SMEs and mid-sized companies that make up the nuclear industry ecosystem take the lead and confidently convey the industry's voice to the government, regulatory agencies, and the National Assembly."

He highlighted the status of Korea's nuclear industry and the importance of nuclear power plant exports, saying, "Korea's nuclear technology is a global public good."

He explained, "Korean nuclear technology, such as the Korean-type reactor 'APR1400,' is a right that all citizens worldwide can equally use, and in some respects, there is also responsibility," adding, "It is the most economical and proven method to reduce fine dust."

Regarding nuclear power plant exports, he said, "As seen in cases like Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic, projects can be delayed or indefinitely postponed depending on the country's schedule," and added, "This year, we are prepared to receive proper applications from the Czech Republic and plan to officially submit the nuclear power project proposal in the fourth quarter according to European Union (EU) procedures."

Attendees shared their plans and resolutions for the New Year to protect and relaunch the competitiveness of Korea's nuclear industry. Jung Byung-sun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "We will strengthen research and development support in areas that can create new industries and jobs in the nuclear field," and added, "We plan to continue efforts to maintain and develop core technological capabilities in the nuclear sector."

Jang Bo-hyun, Secretary General of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, mentioned, "This year is the year to prepare for the decommissioning of commercial nuclear power plants," and said, "Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power should also prepare the necessary technological capabilities for dismantling Kori Unit 1 through cooperation with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and others."

He added, "Once KHNP's final decommissioning plan is submitted, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission will thoroughly review its safety to confirm its appropriateness," and said, "We also plan to establish reasonable safety regulatory measures for radioactive waste that may arise during the dismantling process through diverse public consultations."

Cha Sung-soo, President of the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, reflected, "Last year, we faced difficulties in radioactive waste management due to errors in radionuclide analysis," and admitted, "We were lacking in safety, qualitative system improvements, and communication with residents, focusing too much on quantitative growth."

He continued, "We learned the lesson that efforts focused on qualitative growth are necessary to achieve quantitative results," and said, "I hope 2020 will be a New Year of achieving the value of safety, creating system innovation, and making a leap forward."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.