And staying with Korea's nuclear power industry,... Korean reactor technology has made it through a preliminary review by the U.S. nuclear regulator.
Experts say chances are high that Korea will pass the final hurdle in a few years,... which would open up vast export opportunities for local businesses.
Arirang's Kwon Soa reports.
Korea has cleared the first hurdle in a process that could eventually allow it to export nuclear reactors to the United States and elsewhere,... as Korea's blueprint for a 14-hundred megawatt reactor has passed a preliminary inspection by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The technology for the reactor, the Advanced Power Reactor 1400, is currently being applied to four reactors under construction in Korea and four in the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. commission is the country's nuclear watchdog... and functions much like the FDA for food and drug regulations.


"The NRC is known for its strict regulations, which it strengthened last year. Korea is the first country to pass a new preliminary examination, raising hopes for the expansion of Korea's business."

If Korea's nuclear power technology makes it through the final review, there will be a myriad of opportunities for competition with other strong countries in the business, like the U.S., Canada, France and Russia.
Korea has especially high expectations that it will be able to export its reactors to the U.S.
The country uses 30 percent of the world's nuclear energy, but around 30 of its aging nuclear plants will have to be shut down in the next 10 to 20 years,...
meaning the demand for replacements will be high.
Korea's state-run nuclear power agency says its goal is to get a final yes from the U.S. by 2019.
Kwon Soa, Arirang News.