한국전력기술

At the height of the spring season, a gala groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 28, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. for the construction of Shin-Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 at Bonggil-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. 

 About 500 people attended the event including the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Mr. Chung Sye-Kyun , the governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Mr. Lee Eui-Geun, the mayor of Gyeongju, Mr. Baek Sang-Seung, residents of the town, the president of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Mr. Lee Joong-Jae, the president of KOPEC, Mr. Lim Sung-Choon, the senior vice president of the nuclear project division of KOPEC, Mr. Han Ki-In and the executive officials and site managers of companies related to the construction of Shin-Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2. During the ceremony the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Mr. Chung Sye-Kyun, emphasized the importance of nuclear power, which will contribute to the supply of electricity at stable prices in an age of surging oil prices. He likewise praised the residents of the town for agreeing to the project to build a low-intermediate level radioactive waste disposal facility, a long-cherished national objective of some 15 years standing. The governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Mr. Lee Eui-Geun, declared that he will foster areas of Gyeongju as a future nuclear industry cluster. 

 After the celebratory blasting, representatives of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. briefed the participants on the construction site at the observatory which commands a view of the entire site. A signature ceremony to mark the signing of an agreement to provide special subsidies for the building of the low-intermediate level radioactive waste disposal facility was also held, along with a tea party for the town’s residents.

 Before attending the groundbreaking, the president of KOPEC, Mr. Lim Seong-Choon, along with the senior vice president of the nuclear project division, Mr. Han Ki-In, visited KOPEC’s construction site office to encourage and exchange constructive ideas with the manager and other staff members.

 Shin-Wolsong Nuclear Power Units 1 and 2 are 1000MW pressurized water reactors (OPR-1000) complete with the submerged intake and discharge design. For Unit 1, the basic excavation for its main pipe will be completed by July 1, 2006, the first concrete pouring will be carried out on June 1, 2007, the reactor will be installed on February 1, 2009, and the plant will be completed on October 31, 2011. The construction of Unit. 2 will run exactly one year behind the schedule of Unit 1.  

 Once the Wolsong area sees the completion of Shin-Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 and the low-intermediate level radioactive waste disposal facility, and the Geoncheon area sees the introduction of proton accelerators, Gyeongju, a city with one thousand years of history behind it, will become the hub of ’s nuclear industry.