On the 14th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it conducted an emergency inspection of the impact of the Buan earthquake on Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant and the plant's disaster preparedness measures.
According to the Ministry, domestic nuclear power plants are designed to withstand seismic forces of 0.2g (gravitational acceleration), equivalent to a Richter scale magnitude of 6.5. Key core facilities are managed to withstand 0.3g. This earthquake was the first since the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant's operating license was granted in 1985 to exceed the seismic warning threshold of 0.01g, prompting Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to immediately declare an emergency work posture at the plant. Subsequently, the Ministry, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, and other related agencies have activated information sharing and a coordinated cooperation system. Additionally, the Hanbit headquarters plans to conduct a headquarters-led inspection of the plant’s earthquake response capabilities, including monitoring the plant’s operational status and strengthening equipment safety inspections in preparation for aftershocks.
Choi Nam-ho, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, inspected Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power’s earthquake response posture and the earthquake-related equipment at Hanbit headquarters on site, stating, "In addition to aftershocks, special attention is required for the safe operation of nuclear power plants against natural disasters such as typhoons and heavy rains in the future." He also instructed, "During the summer power supply and demand management period, thoroughly inspect nuclear power plants undergoing planned preventive maintenance and those currently in operation to ensure there are no disruptions in power supply."
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