Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Hyundai leads nuclear plant building
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C), a leading Korean builder, has unrivaled experience in building nuclear power plants in Korea. The firm has built 13 nuclear generators, covering 62.1 percent of the gross generation, out of 21 operating in Korea.
As of January 2012, Hyundai E&C is participating in the construction of nine nuclear plants in and outside the country, including the new Gori Nuclear Power Plant, new Uljin Nuclear Power Plant and Braka Nuclear Power Plants in the United Arab Emirates.
Based with a firm background in nuclear plant construction including pressurized water reactors, Hyundai E&C won the contract for four nuclear power reactors in the United Arab Emirates in 2009.
The construction firm puts safety first in building the plants. Pressurized water reactors are safer than the boiling water reactors used in Japan. They separate the reactor and turbine and this prevents radioactive steam leaving the reactor container. It also has a larger container and emergency power supply to control possible accidents at the nuclear plant.
Hyundai E&C sees further growth in the field, as it considers atomic power is the only practical energy source for the future.
The construction of more than 300 nuclear reactors worldwide is scheduled through 2030 and the nuclear industry is a future growth engine for Korea, along with automobiles, semiconductors and shipbuilding, the company said.