Korea: Lessons Learned from Fukushima Building China-Japan-ROK Radiation Energy Disaster Prevention Network

Li Shilie, director of the Korea Institute of Atomic Energy Safety and Disaster Prevention, pointed out here on the 27th that China, Japan and South Korea, which have 88 reactors, belong to a nuclear power concentration area. Taking into account the characteristics of nuclear accidents and the geography and economic links among the three countries, China, Japan and South Korea should build on their lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear accident and should establish a radiological disaster prevention network and begin substantive cooperation as soon as possible.

Li Shilie pointed out at the "China, Japan and South Korea Cooperation Seminar on Disaster Relief and Mitigation," pointing out that because radioactive material is not perceivable by human sensory organs and it can cause multiple forms of effects on humans, radioactive accidents have a very wide range of impact and have a very long duration. In addition, there are factors that trigger accidents and are more likely to cause panic among ordinary people. Therefore, nuclear disasters need to be treated differently from common disasters.

The official from South Korea specifically mentioned that although the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) formulated the "Non-Proceeding Nuclear Accident Convention" as early as 1986, the Nuclear Safety and Security Agency and the IAEA as the official information release window for the Fukushima nuclear accident. The news released is still too lagging to meet the needs of all parties. For example, he said that the first rain after the Fukushima nuclear accident had caused great panic among the people, and even schools suspended the school. In fact, the official measurement data shows that even if the rain is not even for two days, it will not harm the human body.

Li Shilie said that China, Japan and South Korea belong to a nuclear power concentration area, there are 88 nuclear reactors currently in operation, 37 nuclear reactors under construction, and more than 200 planned nuclear reactors. Taking into account the geographical, economic, and other factors of China, Japan and South Korea, cooperation between the three countries is crucial in the event of a nuclear accident. He therefore called for the establishment of a China-Japan-ROK radiological disaster prevention network, with full-time liaison personnel in order to rapidly share information in emergencies, and establish a radiological energy prevention and disaster prevention working group with practical business standards.

The China-Japan-South Korea Cooperation Seminar on Disaster Reduction and Disaster Reduction sponsored by the China Institute of International Studies was held in Beijing from the 27th to the 28th. More than 30 delegates from government departments, universities, think tanks and media from the three countries conducted in-depth discussions on issues such as the “Status and Prospects of the Cooperation Mechanism for Disaster Relief and Mitigation of the Three Kingdoms,” and “Nuclear Energy Security and Three-Country Cooperation”.