Nuclear power is an essential source of energy that requires more understanding on the part of the public, Korea Nuclear Energy Promotion Agency Chairman Rhee Jae-hwan said.

Stating that while nuclear power has its dangers, it will continue to be an essential energy source until alternative sources are sufficiently developed.

“It (nuclear power) is a science, and what science doesn’t have its dangers? Science is something that is put to use by continuously reducing the risk,” Rhee said. 

“It is unavoidable that nuclear power will continue to be used until alternative energy sources can replace 50 percent of the world’s fossil-fuel generated power.”

He added that nuclear power will gradually decline once other carbon-free energy sources are sufficiently advanced, prompting some to refer to it as a “bridge.”

Regarding Korea’s decision to build more nuclear power plants, despite the international trend of scaling back nuclear power, Rhee said that the decision demonstrates the importance of the power source. The Korean government plans to build 13 more nuclear power plants by 2024, and increasing the proportion of the country’s power output accounted for by nuclear power to 59 percent by 2030.

“On average, nuclear power plants account for 34 percent of (Korea’s) output,” Rhee said. He added that while the Lee Myung-bak administration announced plans to invest 4 trillion won ($3.4 billion) into developing alternative energy sources, nuclear power will continue to be the only carbon-free energy source for some time to come. According to Rhee, the U.S. government has been supporting alternative energy development since 1978 but such energy sources only account for 5.8 percent of the U.S. output.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)