Regulatory activities and severe accident research program in Korea

Nuclear capacity in Korea has been increased to occupy more than 50% in total electricity generation since the start up of the first nuclear power plant in 1978. As to other nuclear countries, the Three Mile Island-2 and the Chernobyl accidents have brought renewed safety concerns into Korean nuclear community on severe accidents. The safety of commercial nuclear power plants has been intensively reviewed and the severe accident analysis is required for existing and future plants. The paper presents the new advance safety assessment approach which would apply to the nuclear power plants in Korea. Also discussed is the effort to promote the regulatory research program for preventing and mitigating a severe accident. The regulatory authority, the Ministry of Science and Technology has required the utility, Korea Power Corporation to perform individual plant examinations and to establish accident management programs. In the licensing review principles, any severe accident beyond the design basis accident will be deliberated inside the framework of safety review guideline for safety enhancements and plant protection. 14 refs., 5 tabs