Peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear materials management in Korea

The Republic of Korea started the IAEA full-scope safeguards inspection with the TRIGA research reactor in 1976 when the nuclear industry was at its infancy. Over two decades of rapid economic growth was propelled by stable supply of electricity, substantially from nuclear energy. Today nearly half of the nation's electricity comes from sixteen operating nuclear power plants (12 LWRs + 4 OLRs). Total number of facilities under IAEA inspection reaches 30 where the Agency conducts about 400 PDIs annually. Within the last decade, nuclear transparency in Korea has transformed into the international norm primarily from the needs of rapidly expanding domestic nuclear program. In addition, possibility of North/South mutual inspection helped initiate the national inspection regime in addition to the IAEA inspection. The Technology Center for Nuclear Control was established at KAERI in 1994 in order to maintain the nation's nuclear verification expertise in support of the Korean government. National inspections have been carried out simultaneously with the IAEA inspection since 1997 with trial facilities, and all domestic facilities are being inspected from this year. Necessary legal framework and working procedures were developed and field-tried for LWRs, OLRs, fuel fabrication plant and research reactor facilities. Although the inspection equipment and technology along with the safeguards criteria are quite similar to those of the Agency, it is essential to maintain the independent conclusion capabilities between IAEA and the national authority. Substantial improvements in the IAEA inspection goal attainments in Korea are credited to the increasing safeguards awareness among the operators and SSAC since 1997. Further work is necessary to develop the evaluation criteria based on the field inspection results to meet the national inspection goals. The Korean Government signed the Additional Protocol with IAEA on June, 1999 after much deliberation since it involves facilities without nuclear materials. Ratification process is underway with amendment of appropriate laws and regulations. In preparation for the implementation stage of the Protocol in Korea, domestic facility operators are being organized to submit the expanded declaration and prepare for the complementary access if necessary. Main concern is the protection of commercially sensitive information. In line with the Integrated Safeguards concepts where the existing 153-type Safeguards and the new 540-type protocol are to be implemented in an integrated fashion, Korea is seeking active ways to enhance cooperation with IAEA. From the Agency's point of view, resource savings could be reached while maintaining the effectiveness when the SSAC is deemed credible. From the SSAC's point of view, the Agency inspection efforts could be reduced if the routine resource intensive interim inspections are substituted by the national inspection. Agency has limited experience on this type of resource sharing, only with the EURATOM's New Partnership Approach (NPA) up to now. However, onset of the Integrated Safeguards implementation is creating a proper environment for a wider application of NPA with a credible SSAC. (author)