[Open Radio YTN] Is there any problem with the media's report on the 'nuclear renaissance' of the Korea-Czech nuclear power plant?

[Open Radio YTN]

■ Broadcast: YTN Radio FM 94.5 (20:20-21:00)
■ Air date: October 5, 2024 (Saturday)
■ Host: announcer Choi Hwi
■ Dialogue: Kim Un-kyung, Director of the Human Rights Research Institute for Media and Human Rights

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.

◆ Announcer Choi Hwi (hereinafter referred to as Choi Hwi): It's a week of time to chew the news, media criticism. Today, I'm on the phone with Kim Un-kyung, director of the Moongle Media Human Rights Research Center. Hello,

◇ Kim Eon-kyung, Director of the Human Rights Research Institute of Mungle Media (hereinafter referred to as Kim Eon-kyung): Hello.

◆ Choi Hwi: Since Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. was selected as the preferred bidder in the Czech Republic's Dukovani nuclear power plant order, the renaissance theory of nuclear power plants has been pouring out following the celebration of the '24 trillion jackpot'. Today, let's look at media reports on the nuclear power plant project in Korea, symbolized by the expression 'nuclear renaissance'. First of all, when was the word 'nuclear renaissance' used?

◇ [Kim Eon-kyung] Actually, the word 'nuclear renaissance' was not first mentioned. As a candidate, President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol made a "K-nuclear power generation pledge" aimed at "realizable carbon neutrality and building the strongest nuclear power." The main contents of the K-nuclear power pledge included strengthening the Korea-U.S. nuclear energy alliance, creating 100,000 jobs by exporting nuclear power plants, developing next-generation technology nuclear power plants, including small-module nuclear power plants (SMR), and promoting nuclear power policies with the people. The expression
'Nuclear Renaissance' has been mentioned in the media. This expression has not been highlighted as the main keyword. The expressions 'Jackpotron' and 'nuclear renaissance theory' have increased a lot in the Czech nuclear power plant orders. However, it can be said that "Jackpotron" has subsided due to concerns over dumping and deficit orders, and the conflict with the US Westinghouse, which claims intellectual property rights over the Korean nuclear power plant model, resurfaced. However, after President Yoon Suk Yeol recently visited the Czech Republic and said at the Korea-Czech Business Forum, "Let Korea and the Czech Republic become 'Team Che Korea' and achieve the 'nuclear renaissance' together," the 'nuclear renaissance' has become a hot topic.

◆ Choi Hwi: So have there been a lot of reports related to the 'Nuclear Renaissance' recently?

◇ Kim Eon-kyung: I searched how much the expression 'nuclear renaissance' appeared in the news big data service 'Big Kines' run by the Korea Press Promotion Foundation. From September 19th to 22nd, when President Yoon visited the Czech Republic, there were 128 cases. From September 16th to October 2nd, there are 173 cases. If you look at the titles of the
representative related reports. The Chosun Ilbo on October 1st <Suspended the operation of nuclear power plants while busy / on the way, the painful aftermath of self-harm from nuclear power plants>; the Korean economy on September 30th <The Nuclear Renaissance to the World>; and Money Today <1st Salesperson> President Yoon, following the Czech Republic, <The nuclear power plant jackpot> in Slovakia? >, Korean economy <Cover Story/'Nuclear Renaissance Korea is also running again> <Money Today <The U.S. is allowed to extend until 80 years when 'electricity' is the national power, and nuclear power plants should be 'long-lived'> Maeil economy <Maekyung Forum/'Enemies of the Nuclear Renaissance by transforming into a solar wind businessman'> <The pouring 'Nuclear Power Renaissance theory'> <Is it a big hit or a fantasy?> and etc. on September 23. Among these reports, today I would like to compare the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh reports.

◆ Choi Hwi: Then, as you said, shall we start the story by comparing the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh articles first?

◇ Kim Eon-kyung: The Chosun Ilbo praised Yoon Seok-yeol's government's Yoon Suk Yeol that the nuclear power renaissance has come in the aftermath of the nuclear power plant's self-harm even though it is busy to go, and the Moon Jae-in government's Moon Jae In of energy conversion was carried out. The nuclear renaissance has returned around the world, and Gori 2 and 3 were suspended due to the Moon Jae In government, and even used the expression "self-harm of the Moon Jae In government." "Global big tech companies are thinking about ways to secure power by building data centers for AI (artificial intelligence)," the
editorial said. "Microsoft has signed a contract to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in New York, which was closed due to a nuclear accident in the past, and receive power for the next 20 years." "With the advent of the AI revolution, the world is in the midst of a nuclear renaissance." At the same time, he pointed out the Moon Jae In government. "The Moon administration has implemented various nuclear power plant self-harm policies throughout the five years, including the nullification of the construction of new nuclear power plants, the early closure of Wolseong No. 1 plant, which had been repaired to extend its operation, and the cancellation of the extension of other nuclear power plants," he said. "Five-year self-harm" has continued, with Gori No. 3 suspended due to the expiration of its operating license on April 28 last year. This is because the process of extending the operation period of the nuclear power plant, which has been suspended for five years by the
Moon administration, takes time." Even at the end of its life, it is necessary to conduct a safety test, but even such a procedure is said, "Nuclear power plants have a period of operation, but this is only a provisional figure in design, and it is close to common sense to actually extend the operation. In the United States, there are many nuclear power plants that operate twice the design period. I cut it down.
But the claim that 'nuclear power is safe energy' and that it is eco-friendly energy that reduces carbon emissions is not a fully proven story. The reality is that in an era of climate crisis, many people are criticizing the claims of nuclear power plant proponents represented by the 'nuclear renaissance'.

◆ Choi Hwi: Then should we compare the Hankyoreh articles you mentioned?

◇ Kim Eon-kyung: Hankyoreh is reporter Kwak Jung-soo's "Pouring 'Nuclear Renaissance Theory' on September 23rd...In the report, 'Is it a big hit or a fantasy', he refuted the 'nuclear renaissance theory' one by one. Not only the United States, which the Chosun Ilbo said
, but also existing 'de-nuclear' countries such as Switzerland and Italy are promoting new nuclear power plants. In this trend, I keep mentioning the nuclear renaissance theory that nuclear power plants are reviving. In fact, the report said that the theory of expanding nuclear power plants is in full swing in Switzerland, the UK, France, and Sweden, and that "in July 2022, the European Commission opened the way for investment in nuclear power plants, including nuclear power plants, in the Green Taxonomy (Green Classification System)." "Taxonomy is a carbon-neutral, eco-friendly industry classification system that serves as an investment guide for companies. At the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in December last year, 22 countries, including South Korea, the United States, and Japan, decided to triple their nuclear power generation by 2050 compared to 2010. In March this year, the 'nuclear energy summit' was held in Brussels, Belgium, where the headquarters of the European Union are located. In a joint statement, more than 30 countries, including the United States and China, decided to make efforts to extend the life of existing nuclear reactors and raise investment in nuclear power plants. ” According to the Hankyoreh report, "As nuclear power plants rapidly emerge as a 'rescue pitcher' for solving the energy crisis, the possibility of increasing the use of nuclear power plants in the future has increased."

◆ Choi Hwi: We are expecting the global energy market trend to change after the European Union's Green Taxonomy, which led to expectations of increased nuclear investment, was confirmed. So, isn't it true that the revival of nuclear power plants has begun around the world?

◇ Kim Eon-kyung: The Hankyoreh report nevertheless gives a very negative assessment of the nuclear Renaissance. It is true that there has been a recent movement to restart or build new nuclear power plants in the United States and Europe, but the evaluation that nuclear power plants are less economical and safer than other energy has already been completed. MIT, the University of Chicago in the United States, and the Royal Society in the United Kingdom rated nuclear power plants 35-45% more expensive than solar power. Far from the nuclear power plant renaissance, the post-nuclear policy of Germany, Taiwan, and Spain remains unchanged, and the global energy market trend centered on renewable energy is strengthening. Despite the global trend, "There are many skeptical views about the renaissance theory of nuclear power plants going back to the nuclear power plant era before the 1980s." The reason for this is not only because of safety problems such as the risk of nuclear accidents and difficulty in disposing of radioactive waste. Seok Kwang-hoon, an expert at the Energy Transition Forum, said, "After the Fukushima accident, the construction cost of nuclear power plants has increased significantly due to strengthening safety standards, and as construction has been delayed, the construction of nuclear power plants has already lost economic feasibility." "In the future, the new nuclear power plant market in the United States and Western Europe should be considered to be virtually over." To tell you the Hankyoreh report. In fact, major nuclear power plant construction projects in Europe are said to be stranded one after another as they have been reduced to a "money-eating hippo." Hitachi Plant in Japan built two nuclear power plants on Anglesey Island in central England, but gave up in 2019 after construction costs soared to more than 30 trillion won. Hitachi lost 3 trillion won to the project. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also raised its hands in 2019 after costs to build four Turkiye Sinov nuclear power plants, which it won in 2013, doubled. Britain's Hinckley Point City (C) nuclear power plant, built by France's state-run power company (EDF), is also reeling as its completion target has been pushed back from 2025 to 2030 and construction costs have nearly doubled. Even Fatih Birol, secretary-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a media interview that "the nuclear renaissance is definitely late," citing the collapse of nuclear power plant infrastructure in the European Union. It is also worth noting that GE of the United States, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Toshiba of Japan, and Siemens of Germany, which gave up their nuclear power plant business due to economic loss, are not jumping back into the new nuclear power plant business. An official from a foreign energy company said, "Companies in advanced countries have nuclear power plant technology and key personnel, but there is no change in their position to suspend nuclear power projects," adding, "If it is a nuclear renaissance, why wouldn't they jump into the market?"

◆ Choi Hwi: On May 31st, the government announced a plan to build a new nuclear power plant for the first time in nine years, and decided to build three more large nuclear power plants and one more small module nuclear power plant (SMR) by 2038. How do you evaluate the prospects for small module nuclear power plants?

◇ Kim Eon-kyung: According to Hankyoreh reports, the prospects for small-module nuclear power plants, which countries are paying attention to as next-generation nuclear power plants, are not optimistic. Bloomberg said, "Many countries are seeking to develop small-module nuclear power plants, but it will take at least 10 years to build a mass production system," adding, "Inflation and high interest rates have increased development costs, prompting investors to question the feasibility of small-module nuclear power plants." The Korean conservative media's report directly linking Bogle Nuclear Power Plant 3 and 4, which the U.S. completed last year and Finland started operation in April last year, to the nuclear power plant renaissance after 2022. Bogle Units 3 and 4 were planned to start the project in 2012 and complete it in 2016, but it was delayed seven to eight years due to a doubling in construction costs and the bankruptcy of Westinghouse, an investment company. The Wall Street Journal predicted, "The Bogle nuclear power plant is likely to be the last large nuclear power plant in the United States, not the beginning of the 'nuclear revival'." All-Kilu Auto Unit 3 was originally completed in 2009, but its operation was delayed by 14 years due to various technical defects.

◆ Choi Hwi: Today, we gave positive and negative evaluations of the 'nuclear renaissance' centered on the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh reports. How do you think our media should report on this?

◇ Kim Eon-kyung: It seems to be true that there is a lot of concern around the world about whether it is a nuclear power plant or a nuclear power plant. What is clear, however, is that nuclear power plants are by no means a safe energy source. The biggest problem with the nuclear power plant report in our media is that the report represents the understanding of the nuclear industry. It does not always properly report on the dangers of nuclear power plants, but in contrast, it promotes the flow of nuclear power plant renaissance by exaggerating it excessively. What Hankyoreh reports can only be found in a very small number of media. But the content is not fake news. It's an era of climate crisis. There was a climate justice march in Gangnam on September 7, with 30,000 organizers estimated and 7,000 to 10,000 police estimated to fill Gangnam. The third of their arguments on this day was a demand from the government to extend the life of nuclear power plants and push for new construction. The IPCC said nuclear power is far less carbon-reducing and cost-effective than solar and wind power, and the RE100 headquarters clearly states that nuclear power is not renewable energy. Above all, nuclear power can cause tremendous damage in one accident. In addition, nuclear waste and radiation without countermeasures force unlimited sacrifices to ecosystems and local residents. So nuclear power can never be an alternative to the climate crisis. The media deserves to study and report on this content properly. Above all, it should be reported with a clear philosophical position of the climate crisis or human rights, but it is very regrettable that there are many reports at the level of accepting press releases.

◆ Choi Hwi: Yes. That's all for today. This has been Kim Eon-kyung, director of the Moongle Media Human Rights Research Institute.

◇ Kim Eon-kyung: Yes. Thank you.

◆ Choi Hwi: This has been Kim Eon-kyung, head of the Moongle Media Human Rights Research Institute.