Korean Inspection Team Reviewing Japanese Nuclear Plant for Two Days: "Progress in Safety Assessment... Further Analysis Needed"

Yoo Guk-hee, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission and head of the inspection team for contaminated water in Fukushima, Japan.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Yoo Guk-hee, chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and head of the Fukushima contaminated water inspection team, stated that there has been progress in the safety evaluation following the two-day on-site inspection of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant conducted until the 24th.

At a press briefing held around 6:40 PM in front of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Decommissioning Archive Center located in Futaba-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, Yoo said, "We have seen all the facilities we intended to inspect," adding, "Further detailed analysis work on the functions and roles of these facilities is necessary."

Yoo also conveyed that "TEPCO provided sincere guidance and positively considered the requested materials." He noted that the safety evaluation of the contaminated water will only be possible after comprehensively reviewing the materials provided by TEPCO.

He explained that during the inspection, special attention was given to the shut-off valves that should be used in case of abnormalities occurring before the contaminated water passes through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS). Additionally, he checked facilities for diluting and discharging the contaminated water, procedures for pre-treatment by radionuclide, and equipment used for analyzing radionuclide concentrations.

Yoo did not make any separate remarks regarding the safety of the Fukushima contaminated water. After concluding the on-site inspection on this day, he plans to spend the 25th analyzing the results and addressing technical inquiries.