Korea, Contributor to IAEA

Joins ranks of advanced countries in transferring tech in nuclear energy field

Korea, which has been depending on the IAEA for the development of its own technology and financial support, is now in a stage of transferring technology like advanced countries, says Kim Young-shik, director general of the Atomic Bureau at the Ministry of Science and Technology,
"Korea will spearhead an initiative of ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy as major member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),"Director General Kim said on July 11 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the IAEA.
Director General Kim said Korea has received funding ranging from $300,000 to $500,000 from and technological support every year since 1957 when the nation became a member state of the international atomic agency established on the same year. As a member state of the board of the IAEA, Korea has been taking the initiative by contributing to 4.07 million euro ($5.6 million) for this year, a sharp departure from its previous standing.
Korea has not only ranked sixth in terms of nuclear power capacity, but also already joined the ranks of advanced countries by constructing its own nuclear reactor in 1995, Mr. Kim said. In particular, thanks to the development of nuclear power technology and radiology and other disciplines of nuclear uses, the nation's exports are projected to amount to $500 million during this year, he said.
Korea hosted the special conference in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) with a slew of nuclear experts from Korea and abroad, including Mohamed EI Baradei, secretary general of the IAEA, participating at the Grand InterContinental Hotel in Seoul on July 12.
In his congratulatory speech during the conference, titled "Nuclear Technology for Development: The first 50 years and Opportunities and Challenges for the Future,"Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Science and Technology Kim Woo-shik said "Since its inception, the IAEA has greatly contributed to promoting the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear energy through its programs of facilitating in the transfer of nuclear technology to its member states and encouraging dynamic global networking and collaboration. With its unrelenting efforts, nuclear energy is deemed to be a driving force behind the sustainable socio-economic development, generating 16 percent of the world's electricity while its peaceful applications serve to improve human welfare in the areas of health and agriculture." "Now as an alternative to fossil fuels, nuclear energy is back in the spotlight to fight surging oil prices and global warning,"he said.
In a special presentation, Choi Kun-mo, director of RCA Regional Office, said the RCA is an intergovernmental agreement involving 17 IAEA member states in Asia and the Pacific, which entered into force in 1972 under the aegis of IAEA. The RCA has endeavored to become a respected resource community on nuclear science and technology, providing high impact solutions to development problems of the region.
RCA Regional Office was established to contribute further to the development of the overall RCA program. The two main missions of the Office are to increase awareness of the RCA and to promote possibilities for new partnerships. After a lengthy discussion, starting in 1997, and being fostered by the Korean government's efforts to host, the Office was finally inaugurated in Daejeon, Korea in 2002. The Office is operating a public web site, through which general public can access information to the RCA program. In an effort to increase PCA's partnership, the Office has initiated dialogues and developed cooperation with other international organizations such as UNDP, ESCAP, ADB, PEMSEA and FNCA, he said.
Yu Zhuo Ping, director general of the 2nd Department of System Engineering at China Atomic Energy Authority, spoke about "Nuclear Power in China: Current Status and the Future."The mainland of China initiated nuclear power program in early 1980s. The construction of the first nuclear power plant, Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, started in March 1985.
To cope with the electricity shortage and protect the environment, construction of four new nuclear power plants started ruing the National 9th Five-year Program (1996-2000), Qinshan Phase II, Qinshan Phase III, Lingao NPP and Tiaanwan NPP. With the increasing demand for energy by the economic development and the strict requirements for environmental protection, it can be foreseen that nuclear power, as a safe, clean and environmental-friendly energy, will play a more and more important role in meeting the future energy needs and maintaining the sustainable economic development in China.
The Chinese government will actively promote nuclear power in the future. The competent authorities set up preliminary target of nuclear power according to economic development predicted in the short and long term, the installed nuclear power capacity could reach 40,000MWe by the year 2020, that is about 4 percent of total installed generating capacity in the mainland of China, another 18,000MWe would be in construction. nw

DPM-Minister of Science and Technology Kim Woo-shik meets with Moganed EIBaradeu, visiting secretary general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during a conferring marking the 50th anniversary of the IAEA at the Grand InterContinental Hotel on July 12.