NSSC: "Radioactive Material Detected at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Site... External Leakage Investigation Needed"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] An investigation revealed that large amounts of radioactive substances such as Cesium-137 and tritium were detected within the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant site.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) announced on the 10th the results of the first tritium investigation conducted by the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Tritium Civil Investigation Team and the Current Issues Communication Council, stating that radioactive nuclides were detected in soil and water samples around the Spent Fuel Storage Basin (SFB) within the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant site.

The NSSC formed a civil investigation team to conduct a direct investigation and a communication council to monitor it in March, following growing public concerns over the detection of high concentrations of tritium within the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant site. According to the investigation results, Cesium-137, a gamma nuclide, was detected up to 0.37 Bq/g in soil samples (at a depth of 9m) around the SFB structure of Wolseong Unit 1. Out of 25 samples collected and analyzed around the SFB, Cesium-137 was not detected in 11 samples. Thirty-seven water samples were analyzed, and Cesium-137 was not detected in 32 of them. In the remaining samples, tritium was detected up to 756,000 Bq/L, and Cesium-137 was detected up to 0.14 Bq/g.

The investigation team stated, "Considering the condition of the SFB storage tank walls and the containment structures, it is judged that the containment membrane of the Wolseong Unit 1 SFB storage tank was constructed differently from the original design in 1997, and since that time, it likely has not functioned as a containment barrier." They added, "The concentration of tritium in water samples around the SFB was measured higher than that in the leaked water from the SFB wall storage tank, and Cesium-137 was also detected." Additional inflow routes are under investigation.

The investigation team noted that further investigation is needed to determine whether radioactive substances have leaked outside the nuclear power plant.

They requested active cooperation from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). The team pointed out, "KHNP removed the containment wall and membrane of the Wolseong Unit 1 SFB storage tank without consulting the investigation team, making it difficult to confirm the condition of the SFB containment structure." They also criticized, "The drawings provided by KHNP are unclear, making it difficult to understand the structure, and their responses have been slow."

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