Fukushima Inspection Team "Focus on Checking the Possibility of Blocking Discharge in Case of Problems"

Fukushima Inspection Team Returning on the 26th
Focus on Checking Potential Blockage if Issues Arise During Contaminated Water Discharge
Final Comprehensive Evaluation to Be Announced

Yu Guk-hee, chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission and head of the inspection team to Fukushima, Japan, stated, "The most critical aspect for us was whether it is possible to block the process if problems occur during the progression of contaminated water."

On the afternoon of the 26th, Yu met with reporters at Incheon International Airport and responded to the question, "Have you confirmed Japan's plan to stop the discharge in case of an abnormal situation?" by saying this. He explained, "There are various related facilities. There are shut-off bands and equipment that control shut-off valves. Among the overall equipment, some locations were confirmed on-site, and there are parts that require further analysis. We plan to analyze the secured data."

Yu said, "Based on the reviews conducted by experts from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) since August 2021, we checked one by one the items that needed to be confirmed on-site," explaining that they observed what needed to be seen on-site and requested data as necessary.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

When asked about "the most concerning point from the on-site inspection results," he was reserved, saying, "Additional analysis is needed, so I can comment after that analysis is completed." Regarding the data requested from the Japanese side, he stated, "For example, in the case of the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), since it needs to operate for a long period, we requested data on how inspections will be conducted and how management will be handled."

The inspection team plans to make a comprehensive evaluation and disclose the contents. Yu said, "We will try to organize and explain the inspection activities as soon as possible." He added, "The comprehensive evaluation will be made by analyzing the data obtained through procedures conducted since 2021 and after completing that work, a final evaluation opinion will be issued."

The Fukushima inspection took place over five nights and six days. It was realized after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reached a sudden agreement at the Korea-Japan summit on the 7th. On the 23rd, the inspection team checked the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), which removes radioactive materials from contaminated water, and the K4 tank that stores contaminated water. On the 24th, they inspected the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant site. On the final day, the 25th, they held technical meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Tokyo Electric Power Company, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan, and returned home that day.

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