[2020 National Audit] "Original Plan for Monitoring and Regulation by Nuclear Safety and Security Commission... Conflict of Interest Persists in Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Research Project"

Lee So-young "Urgent Need to Resolve Conflict of Interest Issues for Independence of Nuclear Regulatory Agency"

Eom Jae-sik, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. (Photo by Nuclear Safety and Security Commission)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been reported that members of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) expert committee continue to have conflicts of interest by conducting research projects for nuclear power plant operators including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). The NSSC is a supervisory and regulatory agency for nuclear power plant operators.

According to data submitted by KHNP and the NSSC to Lee Soyoung, a member of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea on the 22nd, it was confirmed that NSSC expert committee members have conducted many research projects for nuclear operators.

Member A was in charge of "Development of Absolute Age Measurement Method for Seismogenic Fault Activity," Member B handled "Development of Conceptual Design Technology for Cooling Means to Respond to Domestic Nuclear Power Plant MCCI" and "Computational Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis of Core Melt Pool for Evaluation of In-Vessel Retention Accident Strategy Effectiveness."

Member C conducted "Development of Detailed Analysis Techniques for Abnormal Behavior of Safety-Related Pumps," and Member D performed or is performing research projects commissioned by KHNP such as "Development of 4-Meter Class ATE Clad Based on Zr Alloy Substrate Applied to Room Temperature Tube Process."

In particular, Member A provided "Site Radius Survey Consultation for Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6" to Korea Electric Power Technology, which performs design services for nuclear power plants.

During the tenure of this member, a preliminary review by the expert committee was conducted regarding the construction permit examination for Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Member A recently submitted two opinion letters defending KHNP's position during the first trial of the Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6 lawsuit. It was confirmed that the first trial court cited these letters, resulting in a victory for the NSSC and KHNP on the issue of seismic fault investigation.

The decision-making structure of the NSSC, which reviews construction and operation permits for nuclear power plants, involves technical review by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), followed by review by the NSSC expert committee, and finally deliberation and resolution at the NSSC meeting.

As a regulatory agency, the law stipulates that KINS and NSSC members cannot be appointed if they have conflicts of interest with nuclear operators to ensure independence and objectivity of investigations.

However, there are no conflict of interest prevention regulations for NSSC expert committee members. Because of this, the issue of conflicts of interest arising from NSSC expert committee members conducting research projects for nuclear operators has been continuously raised for a long time.

Rep. Lee said, "For the independence and credibility as a regulatory agency, it is inappropriate for NSSC expert committee members to conduct research projects for nuclear operators such as KHNP," and added, "Institutional measures to prevent conflicts of interest should be established."

She continued, "Nuclear operators such as KHNP should also fundamentally exclude people who are appointed and active in regulatory agencies from conducting research and consulting to completely block potential conflicts of interest."