Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy Stressed

Korea-France nuclear seminar held

The Korea Nuclear Energy Foundation (KNEF) (president Lee Jae-hwan) held a press conference for journalists specializing energy and electric power affairs in a bid to call for press cooperation in KNEF projects on March 15.
In the press meet at a restaurant in Seocho-dong on March 15, KNEF briefed the reporters on the outcome of president Lee's visit to nuclear energy organizations in Europe in February and the outcome of the 8th Korea-France nuclear promotion seminar.
Lee told the meeting that the KNEF would press ahead with the program for understanding of the next generation nuclear energy, which yielded success and drew interests from many sectors of the society last year. He added the KNEF will hold the "Nuclear energy research Olympiad" in major cities of the country as well as in Seoul while carrying out the "university students caravan" for major universities to provide the participants with chances to look around and experience nuclear energy facilities.
As a research shows that women tend to have less understanding of nuclear energy compared with men over the past 15 years, he said the organization will provide women NGOs with lectures and experiences of nuclear energy facilities.
He vowed efforts to offer nuclear plant importing nations with knowhow on public relations of nuclear power to help domestic companies increase exports of related facilities. "Toward that end, we will go ahead with efforts for the promotion of cooperation with the relevant countries," he said, while calling for balanced reporting and proactive support from the press to help accelerate the nation's nuclear projects.
In the press conference, a reporter cited the need for "KNEF to call on the government to increase budgets for the organization to strengthen public relations projects and support exports of nuclear energy plants to cope with the changed situation surrounding the nuclear energy industry in view of the booming exports of nuclear plants." President Lee extended a gratitude for the timely admonishment saying, "Once the people's trust on domestic nuclear plants is secured, we can solidify trust on our nuclear energy projects in overseas markets based on that, which will pave the way for the expanded exports of nuclear plants."

◆ Korea-France nuclear promotion seminar held at French government building

Korea Nuclear Energy Foundation (president Lee Jae-hwan) held the "8th Korea-France Nuclear Energy Promotion Seminar" on Feb. 19 in Paris, France. The seminar has been held every other year with KNEF and its French counterpart taking turns.
The seminar was held successfully with the attendance of 10 members- five from each side (one from each organization) - Korea Nuclear Energy Foundation, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., and Korea Radioactive Management Co. from Korean side and CEA, AREVA, SFEN, ANDRA, and IRSN from French side. The seminar began with the opening statement of KNEF president Lee Jae-hwan.
"Climate change along with energy issue have become significant problems impacting all countries around the world. Climate change is apparently a 'crisis.' In Korea crisis means danger but it is followed by opportunity. This means the possible advent of nuclear power era in the aftermath of danger of crisis.
"Due to the danger of climate change, humankind has become to recognize the need and significance of nuclear energy. I hope public relations experts of Korea and France will join hands to exchange information and maintain cooperative relations based on the knowhow and experiences, paving the way for the development of nuclear energy industries of the two nations."
The lawmaker and president of radioactive management company of France congratulated Korea for winning in the bids for UAE nuclear plants outpacing France, describing it as 'fair competition' and 'beautiful game.' In response, Lee cited the need for the two nations to promote the nuclear energy industries together by making the most of the climate change as a chance to speed up the coming of the nuclear renaissance.

◆ Mutual cooperation with IAEA and WNA for the promotion of nuclear plants exports

During the overseas trips, president Lee looked around nuclear plants facilities of the advanced countries in addition to the visits to the IAEA and WNA.
Lee came with agreements in pour points at WNA, headquartered in London, Britain, like admission of KNEF into WNA, WNA's active support for latecomer nuclear plant export nations, provision of information for fledgling exporters of nuclear plants and regularization of information exchanges between KNEF and WNA.
Lee also visited with IAEA undersecretary general in Vienna, Austria, agreeing on three points including co-hosting of nuclear research Olympiad for elementary school students in Asia, co-hosting of nuclear symposium for importing countries of nuclear plants in Asia and co-organizing of youth volunteer and culture projects for developing countries. The undersecretary general said, "I got a deep impression with Korea? efforts to take lead in nuclear culture as well as in nuclear industry." He also cited the need for the two sides to sign an MOU to ensure continued progress of nuclear energy information and promotion.
Lee said that he could recognize the fact that Korea's prestige in international community has been upgraded with the successful winning of nuclear plants exports thanks to strong will power of President Lee Myung-bak on the occasion of my visits to the world's two largest nuclear organizations. IAEA and French officials concurred on the notion that 'Korea is a nation which created own competitiveness in nuclear plants area. They also said KNEF is the world's unique institute dedicated to publicizing the significance of nuclear energy."

◆Nuclear plants safety guaranteed with visits to advanced facilities

He also said he got moved by nuclear advanced countries' efforts to secure nuclear safety for humankind, with his visits to many facilities like Sellafield nuclear complex, bio-energy power plant and Postmark nuclear complex (mid-and-low level radioactive site, high-level radioactive candidate site), France's research institute (high-level radioactive underground laboratory), and so on.
He said he could feel that the world's nuclear advanced countries had keen interests with wonder in Korea's nuclear technology development. "I also could recognize that the nations have been managing the radio active materials, the key to nuclear safety, in a very sophisticated and systematic way. In addition, they were speeding up efforts to secure the safety of high-level radioactive materials as the key to the nuclear safety."
He stressed following facts in a message sent to the all employees of the KNEF, which read, "Let's gear up our efforts for the promotion of public relations regarding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for the sake of the world and humankind." The KNEF also reconfirmed such willingness in a "2010 managerial strategic meeting" held on March 3. nw

(clockwise) Korea Nuclear Energy Foundation (KNEF) President Lee Jae-hwan speaks at a recent meeting with reporters; KNEF President Lee meets with officials at the Sellafield Nuclear Complex; and KNEF's Lee looks around Postmark Nuclear Complex.

KNEF President Lee poses with officials from the World Nuclear Association during his trip to the WNA.