Korea’s Nuclear Energy Policy — Policy Change after the Fukushim…

Abstract
Prior to the Fukushima disaster, the world seemed to embrace “nuclear
renaissance”. Nuclear energy was promoted as a potential solution to
global climate change as it is non-fossil fuel with relatively low carbon
emission. However, the Fukushima disaster of March 11, 2011, has raised
reconsideration of the future role of nuclear energy power. The magnitude
9.0 earthquake that devastated the eastern coast of Japan triggered a huge
tsunami followed by power loss at nuclear reactors, leading to a major
nuclear accident in history. In response to the Fukushima disaster, some
nations have announced plans to slow or stop the use of nuclear energy.
This article tries to analyze the impact of Fukushima to Korea’s nuclear
energy. Korea has been known for following Japanese nuclear promotion policy in the past. What changes Korea has made after having
eye-witnessed the historical disaster in neighboring country, which had
a reputation of high safety maintenance capacity? This article serves to
give an introductory yet comprehensive picture of Korea’s past, current,
and future direction of nuclear energy policy. This article starts with an
overview of nuclear role in Korea’s policy history. To analyze policy
changes, the second and third chapters of this article focus on four
dimensions before and after Fukushima: (1) Korea’s energy policy
directions, (2) nuclear promotion policy, (3) public perception on nuclear
energy, and (4) nuclear regulation and governance. The article concludes
that the overall Korean energy mix for the future has not changed after
Fukushima. The government plans to double nuclear’s electricity
generation capacity by 2035. The government continues to seek export
opportunities of nuclear reactors in other countries. There are some
changes in regulation and safety governance and law after Fukushima.
Further, the article poses more fundamental questions that Korea faces
for future scholarly work.