Analysis of Korean Safety Evaluation Criteria for Dismantling Nuclear Power Plants Using the IAEA Guidance for Safety Assessment

Abstract

Currently, the number of permanently shut down nuclear power reactors is increasingworldwide. Kori Unit 1 and Wolsong Unit 1 were permanently shut down in Korea. Considering thedecommissioning of Korean nuclear power plants, establishing a safety evaluation methodologyis essential because safety evaluation is a critical factor in the decommissioning plan. The safetyassessment of decommissioning facilities involves evaluating all aspects of the field, design, andoperation concerning the protection and safety of workers, the surrounding environment, and the generalpublic. The safety assessment method for decommissioning aims to keep residual risks as low asreasonably achievable by identifying methods for radiation dose reduction and assessing potential doses. In terms of safety assessment criteria, guidance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)provides several criteria, including a safety assessment system, facility and decommissioning activities,risk analysis (identification and screening), risk factor analysis (evaluation), engineering assessment, andsafety measures. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), a Korean regulatory expert organization,also provides safety review guidelines for the approval of the final decommissioning plan (FDP) fornuclear facilities, including safety assessment factors: principles and standards, exposure scenarios,dose assessment, residual radioactivity, abnormal events, and hazards. The Korea Hydro & NuclearPower (KHNP), the nuclear licensee in Korea, submitted the FDP of Kori Unit 1 to the nuclear regulatorybody, which uses the above-mentioned safety assessment factors. This paper compares and analyzesthe safety assessment criteria provided by the IAEA, KINS, and KHNP to ensure the safety of workers, theenvironment, and the general public during the decommissioning of nuclear power reactors.