Shin Hanul Unit 2 Radiation Alarm Triggered, Investigation Underway

On the 14th, another radiation alarm occurred at Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, which had been stopped after coolant leakage was confirmed two days earlier.

According to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the radiation alarm was triggered while collecting coolant samples. The nuclear power plant regularly collects coolant samples to analyze radioactivity and check for abnormalities in the plant.

The first alarm occurred at 3:35 a.m. during the first sample collection, and the second alarm occurred at 5:06 a.m. during the second sample collection. Afterwards, KHNP shut off the piping. There were no further alarms after the sample collection piping was shut off, and KHNP reported that the leakage is presumed to have occurred in this piping. The reason why KHNP shut off the piping only after two alarms is unknown.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) received a report from KHNP and ordered an analysis of the released radioactivity. Currently, it has been confirmed that there are no unusual signs such as alarms from radiation monitors outside the power plant.

Shin Hanul Unit 2 had been manually shut down since coolant leakage was confirmed on the 12th. The previous leakage is presumed to have occurred in piping near the coolant pump. However, an NSSC official explained that this is considered separate from the current incident.

Shin Hanul Unit 2 began commercial operation in April last year, but safety concerns are growing as two radiation leakages have occurred within two days less than a year after its start. The NSSC stated, "We are confirming on-site safety and investigating related matters including the cause of the incident through the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) investigation team dispatched to the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Regional Office and the Shin Hanul Unit 2 reactor coolant leakage incident."