Kim 1

Seongeun Kim

English 3

Mr. Phillips

8 May 2017
Nuclear power plants with earthquake in Northeast Asia

The great earthquake in Japan, 2011 gave people new view about nuclear power plants. After

earthquake Richter scale 9.0 followed by 20 meters tsunami, the whole system of nuclear power plants

were on severe damage eventually causing level 7 nuclear event scale which is nuclear disaster. The

accident showed us two sides of the face of nuclear energy that could be considered as cheap,

environmentally friendly, and dangerous. Not only Japan but the whole Northeast Asia region is in the

danger of nuclear disaster caused by earthquakes because the geologically active faults and tectonic

plates are nearby the nuclear power plants. The region is also highly populated, so if an accident

happens there is high possibility of consequences that could effect on residences due to radiation

exposure. Because of the risk created by several earthquakes, Northeast Asian countries started to

develop and research more on geological data and safety of nuclear reactors to minimize aftermath and

ultimately prevent of nuclear disaster.

Countries in Northeast Asia increased their safety regulations to prevents accident from several

earthquakes that could impact by spreading of radioactive material used in the nuclear power reactors.

Japan is the one most active in increasing safety using regulation since it has most frequent earthquakes

which is caused by its location with three tectonic plates meeting together. Tokyo institute energy

weekly news says after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in march 11 Japan

issued reports with lessons learned form it began with atomic energy society of Japan (Studies). Also,

according to world nuclear association Japanese government order to build wall near the nuclear

powerplants 25 meters high to prevent tsunamis created by earth quakes in the ocean (Fukushima).

These action by Japanese government shows indicate their perception of nuclear powerplant changed
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after the great earthquake in Japan showing the risk, and how it should be controlled by government

regulations. Not only in Japan but also in Republic of Korea showed change to prevent accidents, but

especially after 2016 March, people of the country felt there needs to be action from the government to

increase safety. Jane Chung reports that In Republic of Korea, there was there was historic earth quake

Richter of 5.8 in March 3 2016, near the Kori 20km away from the nuclear power plants with 12 nuclear

reactors. It is in big concern because there are about 2 million people living in the region near 100 miles

from the power plants (Chung). Yonhap news agency, Republic of Korea, reported: Due to increasing

safety concerns, South Koreas nuclear safety commission improved emergency manual mostly in the

way to protect residents (Commission). The countries are aiming to minimize the risk of operating

nuclear powerplants by regulation of governments because cost of preventing is cheaper than facing the

aftermath of a nuclear accident.

Many researches have been done to prevent nuclear powerplant accidents in Northeast Asia,

and it includes finding dangerous point of nuclear powerplants where earthquake might occur. Many

scientists consider geological fault as a dangerous point, and many of the nuclear powerplants in these

countries are place on the boundaries of tectonic plates or geological faults. World Nuclear Association

explains that after Japan knowing the risks of nuclear powerplants it did nuclear stress and risk test, and

it assess the operation system of nuclear reactor and the degree of damage after simulation of natural

disaster. The assessment also included identifying cliff-edge effects-point in a potential accident

sequence beyond which would be impossible to avoid serious accidents (Nuclear Power in).

Obviously Researching is one of the best method to prevent an accident because it gives the knowledge

of how might an accident occur, and it gives the direction of improvement of current situation. There

are known active geological fault in east coasts of China, Republic of Korea, and Japan, and they might

be under nuclear powerplants or nuclear waste storage which needs high attention in order to protect

the residents from radiation comes from active nuclear substances. According to Yonhap news agency,
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In Republic of Korea, after earthquake in 2016 made an announcement on research on geologically

active faults that could be right under the nuclear powerplant(Commission). With various researches

done by these countries, World nuclear association explained that China, Japan, and Republic of Korea

agreed to form a network to cooperate on nuclear safety and quickly exchange information in the state

of emergency. The sharing will benefit all of the countries, and since they are all affected when one of

the countries faces nuclear disaster connection between these countries will prevent from indirect

exposure from the accident when radiation spread by wind happens.

After seeing nuclear safety problems and potential risks, perception of nuclear powerplants to

residents and public became more important because they will not live in the regions near the nuclear

powerplant which will impact to a country with negative way economically and socially. People saw

some accidents and danger coming from nuclear powerplants, and people living in the regions became

paranoid of what is going to happen after accidents occurs. News interview of Yonhap agency after 5.8

earthquake in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea well shows the fear coming from the possible nuclear

accident. When I heard the news the first thing that came to my mind was that Fukushima like accident

could happened (Chung). Due to the situation governments of countries in Northeast Asia are trying to

convince the people living in the region about the safety and to change the negative view to more

positive to operate the nuclear powerplants. The governments have done the process of convincing by

increasing Richter earthquake that the nuclear reactor can tolerate. Furthermore, the public view is

important even for communistic country like China which government holds absolute power; in order to

plant positive view which is clean and safe on nuclear powerplants and also to keep people leaving the

region with nuclear powerplants, Chinese government announced it will improve emergency manual in

case of accidents and to protect residents(Commission). The moving out of the residents will cost

economically by the duty of government to support close cities where they will move to. Even though
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governments of Northeast Asia region managed to stop the paranoia, but the thinking of not in my

backyard effect is still impacting the societies of the countries.

Some researchers say that nuclear power plants are too dangerous in the region of Northeast

Asia because of the frequency and potential of earthquakes near the ring of fire which geological

activities are highest in the world. This is true; most of the nuclear powerplants located near the

geologically active faults. The main geological faults in Northeast Asia map matches the map of location

of nuclear powerplants(Active). This is because all the faults are located on the coastal side of the

countries, and they need sea water the cool down the nuclear reactors(Studies). However according to

world nuclear association, most of the nuclear reactors can tolerate less than 7.0 Richter scale

earthquake, and experts say that the great earthquake in Japan 2011 was an outlier that does not

happened 1 in 200 years, and even if the earthquake is out of tolerable damage that it is designed; it will

not cause explosion of radioactive material all the time, rather experts agreed that the possibility of

disaster will happen is very little. (Nuclear Power Plants). Clearly experts are saying that the region is

not safe from the earthquakes, but they think nuclear accidents will not happen easily; moreover, the

thinking that advanced manual and nuclear reactors control system will prevent possible accidents is

what majority of the experts thinks, of course there will be exceptions. However, above all, the

advantage getting from nuclear powerplants are incomparably greater to not use because of the tiny

possibilities of problems.

One import reason that Northeast Asia countries cannot give up their nuclear powerplants is the

economic advantages gaining from it. According to reports from world nuclear association nuclear

powerplants are inevitably needed to sustain economy of the countries in the region. Nuclear

powerplants gives the dependence from imported energy. The counties average energy dependence is

over 70% which means that they have to import most of the materials to run other kind of power plants

like fire power (Nuclear 2). By the information given by world nuclear association
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Japan imports about 84% of energy requirements due to the fact Japans strategy to

maximize its economic power. The nuclear powerplants are perfect for Japans needs to

decrease import on resources. Therefore, Japans government is trying to increase the

percentage that nuclear power is making up to 40% of all electricity that is made is

Japan. (Nuclear Power in)

So, because the economy cannot develop without building nuclear power plants even though there are

high risk to it. The countries are furthermore attempting to increase the amount of electricity that they

are generating. Northeast Asian countries will not give up nuclear powerplants because for those

countries nuclear powerplants are best solution to maintain their economy in favorable trade system.

In spite of the risk, Northeast Asian countries are willing to take the risk to favor their economy.

In order to convince people and decrease the possibility of a nuclear accident; it caused them to

develop, research, and increase safety regulations to minimize the possibility of accident. But still the

potential problems of nuclear powerplants cannot be removed. Even though nuclear energy seems to be

a perfect source of energy that fits to their requirements, but not one energy is perfect. To keep use

nuclear energy and maintain it a lot of improvements have been made. Northeast Asian countries

should continue on nuclear energy; However more safety regulations and research should be added,

and relying too much on nuclear powerplants should be avoided to decrease the number of people

affected by accident if happens, and make a transition to new energy source that does not need to

import from other countries and also safe.

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Works Cited

"Active Faults of East." Research Gate. Research Gate, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

Chung, Jane. "South Korea's Biggest Earthquake Triggers Nuclear Safety Concerns." Reuters. Thomson

Reuters, Web. 28 Apr. 2017

"Commission Plans Inspection of Land in Quake-prone Area for Nuclear Safety." Yonhap News Agency.

N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017

"Fukushima Accident." Fukushima Accident - World Nuclear Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

"Nuclear Power in Japan." Nuclear Power in Japan | Japanese Nuclear Energy - World Nuclear

Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

"Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes." Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes - World Nuclear

Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

"Studies from Tokyo Institute of Technology Have Provided New Information about Nuclear Science

and Technology (Severe Accident Research in Japan After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power

Station Accident)." GALE Global News. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.
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