'Hanwoolwon Faces 31.9 Billion KRW Fine Bomb, Reduced to 18 Billion KRW'

The fine imposed on Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for using equipment unsuitable for nuclear power generators has been reduced from 31.95 billion won to 18 billion won. On the 28th, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission held the 204th Nuclear Committee meeting and passed a re-disposition plan for fines on operators of power reactors with this content.

Previously, in March 2022, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission decided on a fine of 31.95 billion won against Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for violating the Nuclear Safety Act by installing unauthorized equipment in 16 nuclear reactors. At that time, the commission imposed a basic amount of 27.7 billion won for 27 violations by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and an additional 4.25 billion won for 7 repeated violations and 4 cases that could affect safety.

The commission's secretariat had suggested that there were grounds for both aggravation and mitigation, but the commissioners at the time did not accept this, and the fine was decided reflecting only the aggravating factors. The 31.95 billion won was the largest fine since the commission was established in 2011.

In response, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power filed an administrative appeal in April 2022 with the Central Administrative Appeals Commission to cancel the fine, and in August of this year, the commission ruled in favor of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, stating that the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission did not sufficiently consider mitigating factors and did not take into account the maximum fine limit when imposing the fine.

The Administrative Appeals Commission recognized mitigating factors for 23 procedural violations, noting that the equipment was authorized at other power plants or confirmed to have appropriate performance and safety in subsequent change permits, that the violations were based on omissions or negligence in work procedures, and that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power cooperated with the commission's investigation and prepared improvement plans.

Accordingly, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission decided to maintain the aggravating cases as they were, but to reduce the fine by 50% for the 23 cases where mitigating factors were recognized, as previously suggested by the secretariat, resulting in a final reduction of 13.8 billion won. Additionally, 145 million won, which exceeded the fine limit and could not be imposed, was deducted, resulting in a final fine of 18.05 billion won.

On the same day, the commission also received a report on the review plan for the Periodic Safety Review (PSR) necessary for the continued operation of Wolseong Units 2, 3, and 4. Through this report, the PSR reviews for all 10 nuclear reactors that applied for continued operation under the current government have been initiated.