Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
KHNP steps up nuclear security
The construction of the Shin Hanul No. 1 and No.2 reactors is underway in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province. Both 1,400 megawatt reactors are scheduled to go online in April 2018. / Courtesy of KHNP
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
Cho Seok KHNP CEO
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has beefed up security against potential future cyber attacks to calm public fears about the safety of nuclear energy.
“Through the Fukushima disaster and the cyber attacks, people are afraid of anything nuclear. Yet, it is still one of the cleanest and soundest energy sources,” a company official said.
He said that the level of security is rock solid, as there are multiple layers of protection.
“The moment a reactor is detected to be electrically manipulated, it will instantly switch to a manual mode to allow total control of the situation,” he added.
The number of cases where reactors are stopped to check for a malfunction for such reasons as aged parts has been on the decrease.
In 2012, nine such cases were reported, but it dropped to six in 2013 and five in 2014.
The state power operator says it has elevated the level of security further. It upgraded the emergency power supply system and the facilities needed to prevent reactors from being submerged in the case of natural disasters.
KHNP also hired 25 experts to face down cyber attacks, while placing all the documents under the life cycle management of a unified control center.
It installed additional fire walls and anti-advanced persistent threat software as well.
The power supply has become more stable as the operation rate went up to 85 percent last year, from 75 percent a year earlier.
Currently, five reactors are under construction and four others are waiting to begin operations.
In July, the Shin-Wolsong No. 2 reactor, which is being test-run, will start commercial operation, generating 1,000 megawatts of electricity. The nation’s first 1,400 megawatt reactor, Gori No. 3, the same type that the company exported to the UAE, also awaits government approval for operation. They are scheduled to come on line in the first half of next year.
“Gori No.3 reactor, APR1400, is the model that can be referred to the UAE reactor that we are building, as well as the future model that we will construct overseas,” the official said.
The UAE reactor is about half-finished.
The Korean-designed light water nuclear reactor passed preliminary review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and a full review has been started.
The NRC certificate for reactor design measures the safety of the standard design of an overall nuclear power plant. Once a design obtains a certification, it is deemed safe enough to build in the U.S.
It can be exempted from examinations on standard design certifications, saving time and money for the construction and operation license procedures.
Until now, one reactor design from the U.S. is certified, while two other designs from France and Japan are under examination.