imagination_APR1400

06 Beyond your imagination_ APR1400 CHAPTER_1 INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Since the late 1980s, nuclear energy has proven as one of the cleanest energy sources. According to global
environmental preservation movements such as United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), many countries have promoted the development of evolutionary Advanced Light
Water Reactors (ALWRs) as a vital step for preserving the global environment and ensuring public safety
in order to not be threatened again by accidents like the TMI-2 and Chernobyl mishaps. Korean
government launched the development of a new concept reactor in 1992, which effectively respond to
global environmental preservation programs and dramatically enhance the plant safety and economical
efficiency.
The APR1400 design evolved from four decades of nuclear power plant constructions and development in
Korea. This could be divided into 4 eras.
The 1970s was a period of introducing the first nuclear power plant in Korea. This period was started with
the construction of Kori # 1 with a turn-key contract. One unit was built during this period.
The 1980s was a period of starting national companies to participate in the construction with an
individualized separate contract for each company. During this period, eight units were constructed with
partially acquired foreign nuclear technology.
Introduction of
Nuclear Power
Promotion of
Localization
Technology
Self-reliance
Development of
Advanced Reactor
Construction of
Kori #1(‘71-‘78)
Establishment of
Localization Plan (‘84)
OPR 1000
Development (‘95)
APR 1400
Development (‘02)
PWR(W/H) 1
PWR(W/H) 5
PWR(Framatome) 2
PHWR(AECL) 1
PWR(OPR1000) 4
PHWR(AECL) 3
PWR(OPR1000) 8*
PWR(APR1400) 4**
* 4 units in operation, 4 units under construction
** 4 units under construction
History of Korean Nuclear Technology Development