Yoon's Nuclear Policy Architect: "Focus on Feasibility... Radioactive Waste Site and Nuclear Safety Commission Remain Challenges"

Professor Jeong Yong-hoon of KAIST... Designing Yoon's Nuclear Power Policy at the Transition Committee
"Nuclear policy must be feasible... Considered from national interest, not regime"
Challenges remain with waste disposal sites, Nuclear Safety Commission... "Task to organize the system"
"Regrettable that nuclear power is 'politicized'... Should be left to experts"

President Yoon Suk-yeol announced his nuclear power plant pledge at the site of the suspension of the construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, on December 29 last year during his presidential campaign. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] "Nuclear power policies must be feasible above all else. We aimed to create policies that can be reasonably pursued from a national interest perspective, regardless of the administration."

Professor Jeong Yong-hoon of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering at KAIST stated this as the core of the new government's nuclear power policy in an interview with Asia Economy on the 12th. Professor Jeong, who joined the Presidential Transition Committee's Economic Subcommittee 2 as a specialist in March, played a leading role in the practical implementation of key nuclear power state tasks of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, such as the continued operation of nuclear plants and the resumption of construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4.

Professor Jeong said that selecting nuclear power state tasks was not particularly difficult because the problems that arose during the Moon Jae-in administration's pursuit of a nuclear phase-out policy were clear. He explained, "We focused on solving the problems that became starkly apparent over the past five years," adding, "It's similar to how if your scores in Korean, English, and Math are close to zero, it's clear which subjects you need to study."

Professor Jeong Yong-hoon, Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, KAIST.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

However, he pointed out that the Yoon administration faces many challenges to solve the selected state tasks. The radioactive waste disposal facility (RWDF) is a representative example. The RWDF is a facility that safely stores spent nuclear fuel discharged from nuclear power plants and serves as a kind of ‘restroom.’ However, domestic nuclear power plants currently store waste only in temporary storage facilities (MACSTOR) without intermediate or permanent storage facilities. The problem is that even the MACSTOR facilities are expected to become saturated sequentially starting in 2031.

The Transition Committee has not been idle either. It included the enactment of the ‘High-Level Radioactive Waste Special Act’ in the state tasks. To establish a control tower for waste management, a dedicated organization under the Prime Minister’s office is also planned to be newly created. However, given the current political situation with a minority government, the likelihood of the new administration’s plan for the special law being pushed forward swiftly is low. Professor Jeong said, "It does not seem that the establishment of the RWDF will be resolved without issues," adding, "Both ruling and opposition parties agree on the special law, but there are differences in the details."

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), which gives the final approval for nuclear-related permits and licenses, is also a remaining challenge. Seven of the nine core members of the NSSC were appointed under the nuclear phase-out policy. Additionally, five of the nine core NSSC personnel, including Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee appointed by former President Moon Jae-in, have terms lasting until 2024. Professor Jeong said, "The continued operation was blocked over the past five years, so related systems need to be rationally changed," adding, "Changing the subordinate nuclear laws falls under the NSSC’s jurisdiction, but with the current composition, it seems difficult, so how to reorganize the system is a task."

The ‘politicization’ of nuclear power is also a regrettable aspect. Energy policies, including nuclear power, which need to be implemented with a long-term perspective over decades, have been fluctuating depending on the administration. Professor Jeong said, "The nuclear field has become a highly political issue, so even trying to approach it technically can be problematic," adding, "Nuclear power should not be swayed by administrations, but it was not an area that could be resolved within the Transition Committee." He further stated, "Nuclear power policy should be separated from administrations and placed in the hands of experts."

Professor Jeong emphasized again, pointing out, "Nuclear power policy should benefit the national interest first, rather than whether the administration gains more votes," and added, "It is more important to establish realistic policies that avoid politicization and gain social consensus."

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