The Future of Nuclear in Korea: Sustaining Today; Assuring Tomorrow

By Heather Kleb
Vice President
Canadian Nuclear Association

BEXCO Convention Centre in Busan, Korea

There was an impressive turnout at this year’s Korea Atomic Industrial Forum / Korea Nuclear Society (KAIF/KNS) Annual Conference, with over 600 participants from more than 10 different countries.

The conference took place at the BEXCO Convention Centre in beautiful Busan, Korea. Busan, a port city, is known for bringing people together from all over the world, to attend its international conventions and exhibits.

The seats were filled as the morning keynotes began on April 16. By afternoon there was standing room only in many of the technical sessions. The number of participants swelled further as hundreds of high school students visited the trade show.

South Korea’s nuclear industry ensures visibility through advertising, including on this sign at a bus stop at Gimhae International Airport in Busan.

The trade show had over 230 booths, representing 80 companies and organizations. Among the companies represented were AREVA, Westinghouse, KHNP, KEPCO E&C, KEPCO KPS, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency. As suggested by the conference theme, “Nuclear Beyond Changes and Challenges: Sustaining Today and Assuring Tomorrow,”  the nuclear industry has a strong presence in Korea and its contribution is in fact assured.

Korea is the fifth largest producer of nuclear power in the world and is poised to add 16 new reactors to its 23 reactor fleet. Nuclear power will continue to supply 30% of Korea’s electricity. Korea will be building on a history that includes four CANDU reactors.

Newspaper clipping from the Pinawa Press. The caption reads: “An exhibition game was held Sunday afternoon at the Pinawa soccer field between the Pinawa Selects and the Korean team, members of the Korean contingent who are on a work project with AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited) for 6 months. The game proved to be an exciting one with good action back and forth between the two goals…”

Korea has a long history of technology exchange with Canada. During the conference Korean scientists shared stories of their work experience at the Whiteshell Laboratories in Manitoba, and the Douglas Point reactor in Ontario.

In-Cheol Lim, Vice President of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, shared a Pinawa Press news clipping from a soccer match that he participated in while working at Whiteshell Laboratories. As the smiling faces suggest, it might be time for Canadian and Korean scientists to team up once again.

We hope to see many of them at the Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference in Vancouver, BC, this August!