The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip war

  • 3

    SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'

  • 5

    Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight

  • 7

    ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'

  • 9

    Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture

  • 11

    Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products

  • 13

    RAS KOREAPreserving memories at Cheongju City Archives

  • 15

    Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful'

  • 17

    Memorial Day 2023

  • 19

    Yoon, first lady star on TV show with adopted dog

  • 2

    Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows

  • 4

    ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?

  • 6

    Arrest warrant issued for man who opened plane door mid-air

  • 8

    Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards

  • 10

    Asiana stops selling A321-200 emergency seats after man opened aircraft door mid-air

  • 12

    Korea eyes launch of 4th Nuri space rocket in 2025

  • 14

    Anticipated Korean blockbusters to check out this summer

  • 16

    Mirae Asset holds ETF Rally 2023 for global expansion

  • 18

    Gov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit Guam

  • 20

    LG Electronics expands social contribution in Middle East, Africa

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Yun Byung-se
  • Kim Won-soo
  • Ahn Ho-young
  • Kim Sang-woo
  • Lee Kyung-hwa
  • Mitch Shin
  • Peter S. Kim
  • Daniel Shin
  • Jeon Su-mi
  • Jang Daul
  • Song Kyung-jin
  • Park Jung-won
  • Cho Hee-kyoung
  • Park Chong-hoon
  • Kim Sung-woo
  • Donald Kirk
  • John Burton
  • Robert D. Atkinson
  • Mark Peterson
  • Eugene Lee
  • Rushan Ziatdinov
  • Lee Jong-eun
  • Chyung Eun-ju and Joel Cho
  • Bernhard J. Seliger
  • Imran Khalid
  • Troy Stangarone
  • Jason Lim
  • Casey Lartigue, Jr.
  • Bernard Rowan
  • Steven L. Shields
  • Deauwand Myers
  • John J. Metzler
  • Andrew Hammond
  • Sandip Kumar Mishra
Tue, May 30, 2023 | 17:44
Park Jin
Nuclear phase-out policy should be reversed
Posted : 2021-08-02 17:50
Updated : 2021-08-03 18:37
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Park Jin

Korea possesses a highly developed nuclear industry with 24 nuclear reactors and four more under construction. The country depends substantially on nuclear energy which produces around 29 percent of its electricity supply. The decision by the Moon Jae-in government, however, to phase out nuclear power plants in favor of renewable energy due to environmental and safety concerns in 2017 invited greater risks of economic costs, power shortages, scientific and technological setbacks and, not the least, strong political opposition.

Recently faced with electricity shortages, the Moon administration ordered the early restart of three nuclear reactors (Shin Wolsong 1, Shin Kori 4, Wolsong 3) that had been shut down for maintenance, in order to bring them online within July. The decision appears to have been reached in light of the muted effect of energy-saving measures such as cutting air conditioning at public agency offices during peak hours, and the recognition that these measures will not resolve the risk of an energy shortage.

This decision illustrates how ill-conceived Korea's nuclear phase-out policy is. The Moon government tied the fate of its administration to phasing out nuclear energy from the nation's electricity portfolio, and dedicated itself to this objective during the last four years.

Nevertheless, its nuclear phase-out has proven to be a misguided endeavor that is destabilizing the complex balance of energy demand and supply, even to the point of threatening the future of the nation's industrial sector as a whole.

The current disarray was predicted from the moment President Moon embraced the unfounded arguments and half-truths promoted by the anti-nuclear movement, and chose the most controversial path in redesigning Korea's energy mix.

President Moon's nuclear phase-out stance ended up framing the issue as a dichotomic black-and-white choice between nuclear phase-out and nuclear energy, where the former is "good" and the latter is "evil."

The undeniable truth is that nuclear energy actually brings substantial environmental benefits, and its proven economic feasibility and confirmed safety are updated constantly. The technology behind nuclear power plants is an important economic engine for the nation's future. Furthermore, nuclear energy is the most dependable and realistic alternative to fossil fuel energy that will pave the road for the global journey toward net-zero emissions.

To claim that the current Korean government, which emphasizes the importance of the environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) regime, is not aware of these facts is no longer tenable. The nuclear reactor restart has been hurried forward as worries mounted over energy shortages. Korea promised at the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit to lead the way towards carbon neutrality. Furthermore a joint foray into the global nuclear power plant market was agreed to in the Korea―U.S. Presidential Joint Statement in Washington, D.C., on May 21. These moves are unmistakable circumstantial evidence.

The unavoidable question is this. How can the country continue to pursue a nuclear phase-out while also resolving power shortages, leading the world toward carbon neutrality, and simultaneously participating in the joint effort to expand Korea-U.S. nuclear energy cooperation?

There are clear reasons why the Korean government needs to undo its nuclear phase-out policy.

First, insisting on removing nuclear energy from the nation's power generation portfolio while also aiming to bring energy demand and supply into balance is a "mission impossible," and rigidity in the face of such reality will ultimately render unobtainable the objective of net-zero.

The Korean government is presenting a plan to ramp up solar and wind power generation by 60 percent. But given the climate in Korea and the innate vulnerability of renewable energy to external variables, a stable and easily scalable energy mix cannot be achieved using such radical strategies. Compounding the situation is the massive amounts of land and resources ― such as steel ― needed for solar and wind farms, which far outweigh that required by a nuclear power plant.

Further down the road, the short lifespan of these renewable energy power plants ultimately adds to the waste burden being shouldered by the environment. When all parameters are considered, pound for pound, nuclear energy brings the greatest environmental benefits. This reality cannot be argued away.

Second, under the global net-zero emissions target, the international market for nuclear power plants is seeing steady and unblemished growth. Korea needs to harness this growth potential as a global player.

Korea has already been constructing four nuclear reactors, the Korean Advanced Power Reactor (APR) 1400 model, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2012, the first of which started commercial operation in April this year. Korea is also exploring nuclear power projects with Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

The World Nuclear Association expects to see 150 or more nuclear reactor units commissioned by 2030. Such data was part of the grounds for the agreement reached at the Korea-U.S. summit last May which set the stage for the two nations to enter the global nuclear energy market together.

The collaboration of the core technical competencies and access to capital provided by the U.S., with the outstanding execution ability of Korea ― which includes construction, operation and instrument components ― will certainly help secure the global market for the industries of both nations.

Third, nuclear energy is the last line of defense for Korea's energy security. Korea depends on foreign resources to meet 90 percent or more of its energy consumption. These shipments travel to the country through contentious seas such as the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Hormuz, which are vulnerable to geopolitical tensions. In the rare but not improbable case where an international conflict spills over into these global trade lanes, Korea's energy security cannot escape a debilitating blow.

Not solely for energy security, but for the recycling of the used nuclear fuel based on nonproliferation principles, Korea needs to be able to build and operate a civil nuclear program that includes the ability to establish uniquely Korean competencies in nuclear energy technology, such as pyroprocessing which has been jointly researched by Korea and the U.S. since 2011. Korea has also pioneered the development of small modular reactor (SMR) technology, sometimes referred to as a "game changer" in the nuclear industry.

As a member of the global community faced with a truly existential task, and as a nation preparing for its next phase of innovation and growth, Korea should reassess and reverse the nuclear phase-out policy. Undoing the damage caused is the only realistic way forward to reinvigorating the nation's economy, preparing Korea for a better future and contributing to the global efforts toward carbon neutrality.


Park Jin (parkjin916@naver.com) is a lawmaker of the opposition People Power Party. He chairs the party's special committee on diplomacy and security and previously served as president of the Korea-America Association.


 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Korea eyes launch of 4th Nuri space rocket in 2025 Korea eyes launch of 4th Nuri space rocket in 2025
2Memorial Day 2023 Memorial Day 2023
3Japanese destroyer flies controversial flag as it arrives in Korea for joint drill Japanese destroyer flies controversial flag as it arrives in Korea for joint drill
4Korea's household debt-to-GDP ratio highest among 34 major economies Korea's household debt-to-GDP ratio highest among 34 major economies
5Seoul on alert over Pyongyang's imminent spy satellite launch Seoul on alert over Pyongyang's imminent spy satellite launch
6[ANALYSIS] China's ban on Micron tests Washington-Seoul alliance ANALYSISChina's ban on Micron tests Washington-Seoul alliance
7Vietnam emerges as major market for Korean chipmakers Vietnam emerges as major market for Korean chipmakers
8Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations
9Top 20% of income earners fuel increase in Q1 consumption as pandemic ends Top 20% of income earners fuel increase in Q1 consumption as pandemic ends
10Local governments appeal to young generations through YouTube Local governments appeal to young generations through YouTube
Top 5 Entertainment News
1SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal' SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'
2ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood' ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'
3'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes
4[INTERVIEW] Long-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward INTERVIEWLong-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward
5Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful' Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group