As the conflict within the Middle East intensifies, the world is bracing for a looming power disaster. Oil and gasoline costs are rising quickly because the Strait of Hormuz — the primary artery of world power flows — faces disruptions involving each the US and Iran.
Relying on imports for about 90 p.c of its power, South Korea is undoubtedly among the many nations most susceptible to such a shock. Yet the scenario isn’t as dire as in nations such because the Philippines or Vietnam, the place energy outages have gotten more and more frequent. One key motive for Korea’s relative power stability is its fleet of greater than 26 nuclear energy reactors, which provide roughly one-third of the nation’s electrical energy, holding properties and factories operating across the clock.
The growth of Korea’s nuclear power business is a outstanding success story that mirrors the nation’s broader financial transformation. Like many different sectors, the nuclear business grew quickly over a long time because of the forward-looking imaginative and prescient of political leaders and pioneers in science and know-how. Policymakers pushed formidable nuclear applications early on to safe power independence, whereas scientists and engineers labored tirelessly to amass key applied sciences from superior nations regardless of formidable obstacles. As a outcome, Korea has not solely mastered nuclear power know-how however has additionally emerged as a aggressive exporter of nuclear energy vegetation. Today, it competes straight with former know-how leaders such because the United States and France within the increasing world nuclear energy market.
A latest milestone got here in 2024, when “Team Korea” received a $20 billion contract within the Czech Republic to construct two nuclear energy vegetation, prevailing over robust competitors from France. This follows the profitable completion of 4 reactors within the United Arab Emirates — initiatives with even better long-term worth. These offers are anticipated to generate substantial income for Korean companies over a long time by way of upkeep and servicing. With technological capabilities now on par with main nations, Korean companies additionally take pleasure in a definite benefit: a powerful fame for delivering advanced nuclear initiatives on time and inside finances.
Given that such a formidable technological leap was achieved in a comparatively brief time and underneath troublesome situations, it’s price tracing the trajectory of Korea’s nuclear growth. Highlighting the people and selections behind this achievement gives useful classes for growing nations in search of speedy industrialization by way of technological studying.
The story begins within the early Fifties at nuclear analysis facilities within the United States, together with the University of Chicago and Los Alamos in New Mexico. In the aftermath of the damaging atomic bombings of Japan, President Dwight Eisenhower launched the “Atoms for Peace” program to advertise the peaceable use of nuclear know-how. International scientists and engineers have been invited to these websites to share information on the development of nuclear energy vegetation. A small group of Korean scientists participated, gaining essential information and expertise from their American counterparts.
Upon returning house, they have been tasked by leaders equivalent to President Syngman Rhee and later President Park Chung-hee with serving to construct Korea’s personal nuclear functionality. With minimal infrastructure and restricted engineering experience, the problem was daunting. Yet these leaders envisioned nuclear power as a cornerstone of Korea’s future industrialization. At the identical time, amid ongoing safety threats from North Korea, there have been additionally underlying strategic issues, together with curiosity in a possible nuclear weapons functionality.
Attempts to pursue a weapons program finally failed, because the United States restricted entry to delicate applied sciences equivalent to gasoline reprocessing, which Korea hoped to amass from France. Nevertheless, Korean scientists and engineers pressed on, mastering key applied sciences by way of intensive studying, adaptation and at instances controversial strategies.
After finishing its first nuclear energy plant in 1979 with know-how from Westinghouse, Korea made a decisive and foresighted coverage shift: Technology switch grew to become a central situation in awarding nuclear contracts to overseas suppliers. Korean firms needed to be the primary contractors for any initiatives, whereas overseas companies have been relegated to secondary positions — an try and guarantee key applied sciences have been absolutely localized. Companies from the United States, Canada and France had little selection however to conform to take part in Korea’s super-competitive, however profitable initiatives.
Over time, Korean engineers localized core applied sciences, although not with out friction. In the run-up to the Czech contract, Westinghouse raised mental property issues, accusing Korean companies of infringement. The dispute was ultimately settled, permitting the venture to proceed, nevertheless it underscored the persevering with sensitivity of mental property points in Korea’s nuclear export ambitions.
Today, as one of many world’s prime nuclear energy nations, Korea is positioning itself to profit from the anticipated enlargement of the worldwide nuclear power market. Notably, some nations that had beforehand phased out nuclear energy as a consequence of security issues — equivalent to Germany — are reconsidering their stance amid power safety issues. The ongoing instability within the Middle East, which threatens fossil gasoline provides, could additional speed up this shift. In this sense, the disaster may show to be an sudden alternative for Korea and its nuclear business.
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Lee Byung-jong
Lee Byung-jong is a former Seoul correspondent for Newsweek, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News. He is a professor on the School of Global Service at Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul. The views expressed listed here are the author’s personal. — Ed.