Role of KINS for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Korea [Abstract only]

Full text: This paper reviews the important role of Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) for emergency preparedness and response in Korea. The KINS performs the regulation for the safety performance and radiological emergency preparedness of the nuclear facilities and radiation utilizations. The radiological emergency preparedness in Korea is based on the Act on Physical Protection and Radiological Emergency which stipulate a national preparation against radiological emergency. Also, KINS has set up the "Radiological Emergency Technical Advisory Plan" and the associated procedures such as an emergency response manual in consideration of the IAEA Safety Standards GS-R-2 and GS-G-2.1. The Radiological Emergency Technical Advisory Center (RETAC), which is in charge of providing technical advice on radiological emergency response, dispatching technical advisory teams to the affected Off-site Emergency Management Center (OEMC), initiating emergency operation of 128 nation-wide environmental radioactivity monitoring stations in accordance with the Nationwide Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring Plan, coordination and control of off-site radiation monitoring, offering radiation monitoring cars, and monitoring the response activities of the operator, will be organized by KINS for the response of emergency situations. Moreover, so as to efficiently implement technical support activities for protection of the public and the environment in a nuclear or radiological emergency of a nuclear power plant, the "Atomic Computerized Technical Advisory System for a Radiological Emergency" (AtomCARE) has been developed and is in operation. Through the system, any nuclear or radiological emergency and its consequences can be quickly verified and assessed, and subsequently, comprehensive management of the information related to public protective actions is also made possible. Recently, The KINS published the report (2013) to adapt the Precautionary Action Zone (PAZ) and Urgent Protective Action Planning Zone (UPZ) applying the IAEA guidelines and reflecting the lessons learned from Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident and was legislated in the Radiological Emergency Act. (author)