[2020 National Audit] "Nuclear Power Plants Suddenly Started 13 Times in 5 Years... 3 Times This Year"

Jojung-sik "Large-scale disasters may follow... Thorough analysis of causes"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that domestic nuclear power plants frequently stop unexpectedly due to malfunctions and breakdowns. Since nuclear accidents can lead to major disasters in an instant, there are calls for authorities to make more thorough preventive efforts.

According to data submitted by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to Cho Jung-sik, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, a total of 18 nuclear power plant malfunctions and shutdowns have been recorded from 2016 to August of this year.

Excluding cases where nuclear power plants were manually stopped for equipment maintenance, there were 13 cases of unplanned shutdowns caused by sudden malfunctions. This year, among the 4 malfunction shutdowns, 3 were unexpected stops.

Looking at all malfunction shutdown cases by cause, defects in nuclear power plant auxiliary machinery accounted for 9 cases, half of the total. Instrument abnormalities (4 cases), turbine stops (3 cases), and electrical system problems (1 case) followed.

Among the mechanical failures, there were cases such as improper insertion of control rods similar to the American drama "Chernobyl," as well as vacuum tube ruptures and corrosion of sealing parts.

The most recent malfunction occurred in July, involving the automatic shutdown of Hanul Unit 6 reactor. This was due to all reactor coolant pumps stopping, and the cause of the malfunction is still under investigation.

Assemblyman Cho Jung-sik said, "The public's fear of nuclear accidents, which can lead to major disasters with just one incident, remains unrelenting," adding, "The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and KHNP must thoroughly analyze the causes of malfunction accidents and prepare accordingly."

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