[Jeju Resource] Air view of the 2011/2012 Jeju naval base construction plan by the Jeju Naval Base Business Committee

* Image source: Click the links
http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/297 (2011, 2012)
http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/296 (2012)
http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/295 (2011)

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See also
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2010/11/jeju-resource-translation-why-annulment.html
[Jeju Resource][Translation]: Why the annulment on the cancellation of the absolute preservation area has to be done?
[제주 번역] 왜 절대 보전 지역 해제를 취소해야 하는가?
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Air view of the 2011/2012 Jeju naval base construction plan by the Jeju Naval Base Business Committee




Ignoring the UNESCO-protection designated soft coral habitats (circle area), the Jeju naval base construction is planned to be completed by 2014. The navy's main contract companies are Samsung C & T and Daerim Industry. The sub-contract companies are Woochang, Daeyoung, Osung etc. etc....

[Jeju Update] Samsung workers, Samsung, and the Jeju naval base 삼성 노동자들, 삼성, 그리고 제주 해군 기지

* 본문 국문은 영문 밑을 보시길.

* Image source: Ku Do-Hee, Voice of People, Feb. 4, 2011 민중의 소리 구도희 기자, 2011년 2월 4일(클릭)
'portrait of Kim Joo-Hyun, the deceased Samsung worker in mortuary
'빈소에 있는 고 김주현 노동자의 초상'


* Image source: Samsung General Labor Union, Jan. 26, 2011 삼성 일반 노조 웹사이트, 2011년 1월 26일(클릭)

' Workers and activists have been doing relay one-man protest in front of the Samsung factories in Suwon and Cheonan, every Wednesday, to demand the withdrawal of unjust lay-off of a worker who claimed for company's acknowledgement on labor union.'

'노동자들과 활동가들은 수원, 천안 삼성 공장 앞에서 매부 수요일, 노조 인정을 요구했던 한 노동자의 부당 해고 철회를 요구하며 매주 일인 시위를 벌이고 있습니다.'
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Despite New Year holidays (Feb. 2 to 6) in lunar calendar in Korea, there are people who cannot enjoy them. The bereaved family members of the deceased Mr. Kim Joo-Hyun, a worker in the Samsung Electronics LCD, City of Cheonan are part of those.

Even though, it was Jan. 11 when Mr. Kim Joo Hyun made suicide by jumping from the rooftop of the factory dormitory, his family members are still keeping mortuary where his portrait is still being placed on, demanding acknowledgement and apology from Samsung for the cause of Kim’s death. The investigations on the cause of his death, such as excessive working time and on company's negligence on his suicide have been still going on as well, the Voice of People reports.

The Stop Samsung blog has reported on Jan. 14:

‘He suffered from skin disease due to chemicals and depression because of severe job stress. This shocking news is even more disturbing since it follows a rash of similar suicides by young workers at the Foxconn factory in China and inspires us to increase our determination to bring justice for the Samsung workers and families. He is the second suicide at Samsung this month! See the article by Elizabeth Grossman HERE for more background and details. In memory of Kim Joo hyun, we ask that you join the Samsung Accountability Campaign on the Causes page HERE.'

For Samsung workers’ occupational deaths and protests, see HERE and HERE as well.

Samsung is not only infamous for its no-labor union policy but also for its omnipotent abuse of power throughout South Korea. The Republic of Korea is called as the Samsung Republic in satire.

Samsung is also involving in Korea Aerospace industries along with Hyundae (The current president Lee Myung-Bak is originally from Hyundae) and Daewoo etc., producing and exporting many weapon systems, for example its branch, Samsung Tales, the South Korea's leading maker and exporter of naval combat systems.

It has been alarming when the Jeju media (Jeju Sori1, Jeju Sori 2, Media Jeju) reported that the Jeju Island government had made contract for partnership with Samsung C & T to achieve export of 1trillion won on Jan. 21, 2011.

It reported that the Jeju Island and Samsung made contact to collaborate on scouting for bright export goods, supporting for foreign marketing and inheriting on export know-how for the Jeju Island government officers.

The Samsung C & T is told to be the matrix of Samsung with its total sale price exceeding 10 trillion 876 billion won last year, which is near four times of the Jeju Island budget this year. It was also told that all the information and resources acquired during the process of execution on the agreement conclusion would be ‘absolute secrete.’

Further, the Samsung C & T has made contract with the navy for the naval base construction along with Daerim who is involving the construction on space museum through its consortium. The Samsung C & T is also being involved in KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) consortium along with the KEPCO, Hyundae and Doosan Heavy Industry, which has made contract with the United Arab Emirates on nuclear power plant in Dec. , 2009.

Jan. 21 was the next day when the Jeju media reported the contradictory decision by the members of the special committee on the settlement of the conflict on naval base, Island Council, who were told to have decided to urge the prime minister for earlier legislation on the revised bill on the Jeju special law which included the support basis on the Jeju naval base, while 40% of the members had voiced on the unjust process on the annulment of the absolute preservation areas in the Gangjeong village.

The Samsung, supporting the drive by the central and Jeju Island government, Jeju Island Council for Jeju being one of the seven wonders of nature, is grasping the Jeju Island, as it has wielded power throughout South Korea. Please watch Samsung. Please boycott Samsung product in your countries and if you can, protest on its oppression of workers and involvement in the Jeju naval base construction.


음력 새해 휴일(2월 2일에서 6일) 에도 불구, 휴일을 즐길 수 없는 사람들이 있습니다. 천안시 삼성 전자 LCD의 고인이 된 노동자 김주현님의 가족들이 그 일부입니다.

김주현님께서 공장 기숙사 옥상에서 뛰어내림으로서 자살한 것은 1월 11일이었음에도 불구, 그의 가족들은 김씨의 죽음의 원인에 대해 삼성이 인정하고 사과할 것을 요구하며 그의 영정이 아직 안치되어 있는 빈소를 지키고 있습니다. 민중의 소리는 과도한 노동 시간, 그의 자살에 대한 회사의 회피등 그의 죽음의 원인에 대한 조사들도 아직 진행되고 있는 중이라고 보도합니다.

스탑 삼성 블로그는 1월 14일 보도한 바 있습니다:

그는 화학 물질들로 인한 심각한 피부병과 과도한 직장 스트레스로 인한 우울로 괴로워했습니다. 이 충격적 소식은 중국 팍스콘 공장에서의 젊은 노동자들의 유사한 다발적 자살뒤에 이어진 것이기 때문에 한층 괴로운 것으로 삼성에 정의를 가져오기 위한 결심을 확대하도록 우리의 열망을 불러일으킵니다. 그는 이달 두번째 자살자입니다. 좀더 자세한 배경과 세부는 엘리자베쓰 그로스의 기사를 여기서 보시길. 김주현님을 기억하며 ‘원인들에 대한 삼성 감시 캠페인’ 페이지는 여기를 보시길 부탁드립니다.

삼성 노동자들의 직업병에 의한 사망과 항의들은 또한 여기와 여기를 보시길.

삼성은 무노조 정책뿐만 아니라 남한 전체를 통하여 무소불위의 권력 남용으로도 악명이 높습니다. 대한민국은 삼성 공화국으로 풍자화됩니다.

삼성은 현대(현재 이명박 대통령은 원래 현대에서 왔음)와 대우 등과 함께 한국 우주 항공 산업에 참여하면서 많은 무기 시스템들을 생산하고 수출하는데 그 예로서 남한의 해군 전투 시스템을 주도적으로 생산하고 수출하는 지회사인 삼성 탈레스가 있습니다.

2011년 1월 21일 제주 언론 (제주 소리1, 제주 소리 2, 미디아 제주)이 제주도정이 삼성 물산과 1조원 수출을 달성하기 위해 삼성과 협력 계약을 맺었다고 보도했을 때 그것은 경계할만한 것이었다.

제주 언론은 제주도와 삼성이 유망 수출 상품 발굴, 해외 시장 지지, 그리고 제주 도정 공무원들에게 수출 노하우를 전수하는 것을 협력하기 위한 계약을 했다고 보도했습니다.

삼성 물산은 작년 총매출액이 1조 8760억원 가량을 초과하는 것과 더불어 삼성의 모태라 하는데 그것은 올해 제주도 예산의 4배에 가까운 것이라 합니다. 또한 협약 체결 실행 과정 동안 획득되는 모든 정보와 자료들은 ‘절대 비밀’이라고 합니다

게다가 삼성 물산은 콘소티움을 통해 참여하는 우주 박물관 건설에 관여하는 대림과 함께 해군 기지 건설을 위해 계약을 한바 있습니다. 삼성 물산은 또한 한국 전력, 현대, 두산 중공업과 함께 2009년 12월 유나이티드 아랍 에미레이츠와 원자력 공장 수출 계약을 맺은 한국 전력 콘소티움에 참여하고 있습니다.

1월 21일은 제주 언론이 도의회 해군 기지 갈등 해소를 위한 특별 위원회의 모순되는 결정을 보도한 다음날인데 40 % 가량의 회원들이 강정 마을 절대 보전 지역들 해제의 부단한 과정에 대해 목소리를 냈던 바 있던 특위는 제주 해군 기지 지지 근거를 포함한 제주 특별법에 대한 개정안의 이른 입법화를 총리에게 촉구하기로 결정하기로 알려졌습니다.

제주가 7대 경관이 되기 위한 중앙 정부, 제주 도정, 제주 도의회의 추진을 지지하는 삼성은 자신이 남한을 통틀어 권력 행세를 하였던 것처럼 제주도를 움켜쥐고 있습니다,. 삼성을 감시하길. 여러분들 나라 삼성 제품들을 보이콧하고 하실 수 있다면 삼성의 노동자들에 대한 탄압과 제주 해군 기지 건설 참여에 항의하길 부탁드립니다.

[Jeju Update] Cranes Came but Withdrew. Gangjeong Villagers Keep Watching; In June 2 Election, the Ruling Right Wing Party Was Defeated

* All the image source: Kim Kyung-Duk, Seogwipo Daily Newspaper, June 3, 2010

▲ 강정주민들은 선거 익일인 3일 이른 오전 공사업체들이 제주해군기지 건설 착공에 들어간다는 소식을 들은 뒤, 불안감에 밤을 꼬박 지샜다.

▲ The Gangjeong villagers, hearing the news that the construction companies would enter the ceremony to set up the naval base early in the morning of June 3, stayed overnight with anxiety.


▲ 강정 주민들이 공사 진입로를 막아 선 모습.

▲The Gangjeonmg villagers are blocking the entrance road to construction.
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* All the image source: Artist Kim in the Gangjeong village, Jeju Island

* Click the images for larger view.







* Cranes came but withdrew. One can see the sacred Hall Mt. in the back.

Upon the information that the navy and police may drive the ceremony to set up the naval base plan last night (June 2, Korean time) the Gangjeong villagers have stayed overnight around tent.

The voting result on the nationwide local election was shown in the TV and people anxiously watched the TV in the tent.

The villagers say the cranes came early dawn but withdrew. The villagers predict they would come sooner or later.

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Report on June 2 Nationwide Local election: Jeju Island

The vote-counting for the Jeju island governor was finished around 2am last night.

Woo Geun-Min who was the Island governor for four times in the past became the governor. He won over the Samsung figure Hyun Myung-Gwan (former Samsung advisor) by 2,252 votes(0.8%). Samsung is one of the construction companies of the Jeju naval base plan with Daerim, one of the aerospace companies in Korea, and one of the most vicious companies against workers. Hyun Myung-Gwan has been accused that he made the contract for the Jeju naval abse plan when he was the former advisor of Samsung C & T. Otherwise, Bruce Gagnon forwarded this article called The Really Creepy People Behind the Libertarian-Inspired Billionaire Sea Castles (Alter Net is the link). The related company is Samsung Heavy Industry. See its disgusting website.

The result

Woo Geun-Min 41.40 %

Hyun Myung-Gwan 40.55%

Koh Hee-Beom (The former Hankyoreh president, unified candidate among the opposition parties and whom the Jeju activists most supported) 19.19%

Woo Geun Min is a conservative and people never expect he would oppose the naval base plan. But at least he is not a Samsung man. He was a Democratic candidate (biggest opposition party) but robbed of the support for him from his own party because of the charge of sexual harassment when he was a governor. He has denied the charge.

It is said the vote rate of the Jeju Island was the highest in Korea this time. (65%, about 10% higher than any other ares in Korea).

In the Jeju Island Self-Governing Council (Island assembly), the Democratic party occupied more than half, wining over the ruling Grand National Party who has occupied the majority by now.

Regarding the Jeju Island assembly election, in the 24th election district where Gangjeong belongs to, the new comer (Democratic party) won over the candidate of the ruling Grand National Party.

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Report on June 2 Nationwide Local election: Main Land

According to some sites:

_ Anti Lee Myung-Bak front of the unified opposition parties made the half-victory.

_ Even though the mayor/governor positions were given to the ruling Grand National Party in Seoul, Gyunngi province, after the fierce competition, some mayor/ governor provinces including Incheon, Chungnam, Gyungnam were given to the opposition parties.

_ In the election for the Chairmen of the founding self-governing government institutions (District) in Seoul, the Democratic party occupied 21seas among 25seats. It is the big reverse compared to 4years ago when the ruling Grand National Party occupied all seats.

_ In Korea Nationwide, the Democratic Party won over the ruling Grand National Party in the election of the National Assembly.

- Analysts say the Lee government’s belligerent drive with the evil-spell of the sunken Cheoan ship drive has rather brought out the countering reverse and many young people in 20s who would be drafted if war happens were infuriated by the Lee government’ reckless drive. And they unusually voted in larger number this time. Yes. Peace is Security!

[Jeju Update] The Candidate of the Ruling Party, for the Island Governor, was Once the Figure of Samsung, the Navy-Contracting Company

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* See all the blogs about the issues of Jeju Naval Base (total 109)
* 제주 해군 기지 이슈에 대한 모든 블로그는 여기를 가시길(109개)
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* image source: 'Hyun Myung-Gwan'

Surrounding his corporate career and wrong remarks, Hyun Myung-Gwan, the current preliminary candidate of the conservative Grand National Party, for the Island governor position, has been in focus. It happened on May 3 because of his Samsung career and on May 4, because of his remarks with which he infuriated the villagers and civil organizations.
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1. Woo Geun-Min, an independent candidate for the Island governor has pointed out the two problems in Hyun’s position.

Above all, related to the postponement of the ceremony for the setting up of the naval base construction, Woo questioning that, “In the press interview, on the matter of the selection of the new area, the candidate Hyun has announced his position that the cruise should be the main while the military vessels should be the side. However, he has not expressed any of his views when the navy attempted to enforce the ceremony. Isn’t the silence the favor [of the naval base]?’ asked Hyun of what was his view on the postponement of the ceremony. (Sisa Jeju)

* Image source: Jeju Sori 'Woo Geun-Min'

According to Sisa Jeju, Woo claimed, “The Samsung C&T corporation has contracted on the construction related to the naval base in Gangjeong village in July 2009. The preliminary candidate Hyun was the executive advisor of the Samsung C&T since [May] 2008 . During the time of the naval base construction contact, Hyun, the preliminary candidate was clearly the person interest-concerned.’ Woo demanded as, “The candidate Hyun should clearly answer whether he was the very core person concerned, related to the Gangjeong village naval base issue and whether he could be the qualified as the fair intercessor.” (see the Media Jeju, as well)

Samsung is infamous for wielding power through all the political matters, with its enormous economic power; for unprecedented oppression of workers; and lastly for its status as one of the Korea Aero space industries with Hyundae and Daewoo. Samsung is also arms product and arms export company. (See all the blogs labeled as, “Samsung’)

Otherwise, Woo is an independent candidate, a former Island governor, and once chosen as the candidate of the Democratic Party but cancelled because of his sexual harassment career during his term. His current public pole is the second, after Hyun Myung-Gwan.

Koh Hee-Beom, the preliminary candidate of the Democratic Party and the former President of the Hankyoreh Press Inc, having the criticism on Hyun’s remarks on May 4 that, “It is natural that the company participates for the company interest,” denounced that, “There is not a bit his heart loving Jeju.” (Media Jeju)
* Image source: Google, 'Koh Hee Beom'
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2. As Hyun Myung-Kwan, Grand Nation Party, preliminary candidate for the governor of the Jeju Island has told, visiting the press room in the Jeju city Hall at 10:30am, in the morning of April 4, that, “The Gangjeong village naval base was decided by the villagers’ vote,” the Pan-Island committee against the Jeju Naval Base and Realization for peace, having a statement, announced that, “The remarks of the preliminary candidate Hyun reveals he has not grasped even the minimum factual relationship related to the naval base business that is the biggest current issue in the Jeju Island.”

The Pan-Island Committee said that, “It is the minimum ‘fact’ that a preliminary candidate for Island governor should naturally know that it was the ‘villagers’ votes’ that the Gangjeong villagers have requested for last three years.” (Media Jeju) (Sisa Jeju)

The Gangjeong villagers themselves have had their own votes more than twice in 2007 and 2008. In August 10, 2007, 740 villagers joined the vote and more than 680 opposed the naval base plan. Therefore, more than 94% were, in opposition against the naval base. In the second vote, near 900 villagers gathered and the opposition rate was similar, as well. For reference, Gangjeong is with 2000 villagers with 600 households. Therefore tit means that almost every adult in the each household opposes the naval base plan. And even though the villagers have become very tired after three years’ systematic government oppression, the numbers of the villagers opposing against the base plan have been increased. Still, the Island government and the central government have never acknowledged the villagers vote and if the villagers demand the official vote from the conviction of their victory, the government officials would withdraw their claim itself.

Jeju Aerospace Museum in the Seogwipo City, by 2013?

* Image source: same as the below link
Design of the Jeju Aerospace museum by Daerim Inc. Consortium

The Seogwipo Daily Newspaper reported on March 23 that the Daerim inc. consortium was selected as the company to build the ‘Aerospace museum’ in Seokwang-ri, Anduk-myeon. City of Seogwipo, Jeju Island.

*The Jeju Free International City Development Center announced on March 22, that the Daerim Inc. Consortium was finally selected before the Samsung C & T inc. consortium, as a result of the bid for the laying out & carrying out the construction of the aerospace museum.

The Daerim inc. consortium is composed of Daerim Industry (42%), Hanwha Construction (20%), Hwasung Industry(18%) and other two companies(each 10%)

* Wait. Daerim Inc. is one of the companies, with Samsung, who have involved in the Yongsan tragedy, and is to take charge of the 1st construction part of bay & harbor for the planned Jeju naval base. Hanwha is infamous for the production & export of the cluster bombs. (For more. click HERE)


The Korea Times has reported on May 5, 2009 as below:


“Tourist haven Jeju Island, famous for flowers, rocks and wind, could become a technology hub when an aerospace museum is completed by 2013.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs started construction at Shinhwa Park, Seogwipo, Tuesday with a planned investment of some 130 billion won ($100 million) in the project.

The ministry, the Air Force and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province have teamed up to bring the museum to fruition.

The 330,000-square-meter complex is to be composed of an ``experience center'' where people can try programs related to the space industry and view ``exhibitions'' showing basic information about air and space, which are still considered largely irrelevant to many people here.

Pilot training, simulators, entertainment facilities, training centers and a three-dimensional cinema and planetarium are to be built to attract the younger generation. A history museum focusing on Korean space studies and the Air Force will appeal to other age groups, the ministry said.

The museum surroundings will feature five theme parks where people can sit in aircraft exhibits.

Simulated Air Force combat, operational training and a military transport for soldiers are also to be exhibited.”


How the story is relevant to the Jeju naval base plan that the ROK government has bluffed out to finish by 2014? ? It is surely one of the attention points.


* Jeju Island is undergoing six major projects to become a ‘Global city’: Health Care Town, English Education City, Jeju Science Park, Resort-type Residential Complex, Myths and History Theme Park, and Seogwipo Tourism Port. With the exception of Health Care Town and English Education City, the four projects have already been initiated.(Architecture Now, May 18, 2009)

Text Fwd: Landmark nuclear power plant deal sounds energy alarm within South Korea

* Image source/ caption: Same as the link below

'South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, seated, claps his hands together when Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) President and CEO Kim Ssang Su, left, and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) President Khaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak, right, shake hands after signing a contract in Abu Dhabi Dec. 27.'

Hankyoreh
Landmark nuclear power plant deal sounds energy alarm within South Korea:As KEPCO consortia secures APR contract in UAE, environmentalists say nuclear power plant export is little cause for celebration in S.Korea
Dec. 28, 2009

South Korea has picked up project rights for a 40 billion dollar (47 trillion Won) nuclear power plant project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced Sunday (local time) that a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) was selected as the final contractor for the project. The KEPCO consoritium beat out France’s AREVA and a U.S. consortia led by General Electric Co. and the Japanese firm Hitachi Ltd.

The UAE project is the largest-scale overseas project order ever picked up by South Korea. The selection is further significant in that it marks the first exportation of South Korea’s independently developed nuclear power plant model APR. Environmental groups, meanwhile, continue to question the safety and utility of nuclear power plants.

Project Details and Selection Factors

The KEPCO consortium will begin work on the power plant next year in Sila, a city located 330 kilometers west of the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. There will be four 1,400 MW-capacity plants at the location generating a total of 5,600 MW of power. Analysts say out of the 40 billion dollars, an estimated 20 billion dollars will go into design, construction and early operating expenses, while the remaining 20 billion dollars will go towards after service expenses for a period of 60 years after construction is completed for items such as plant fuel, operating costs, maintenance and waste treatment.

The primary factor in the selection of the South Korean nuclear power plant model, which has never been exported before, was its cost competitiveness. According to data from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the APR’s construction unit cost of 2,300 dollars per kilowatt (kW) was lower than those of its competitors AREVA at 2,900 dollars per kW, and GE at 3,583 dollars per kW. In terms of electricity generation unit cost, the South Korean model’s 3.03 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) was lower than AREVA’s 3.93 cents kWh, and less than half Hitachi’s 6.86 cents kWh.

Criticism from Environment Groups

Questions about its utility and safety make nuclear power a controversial energy source throughout the world. The chief concern has to do with fatal damages that could result from radiation leakage in the event of an accident. For this reason, environment groups have maintained that nuclear power cannot be a fundamental alternative for combating climate change and that the construction of nuclear power plants should be minimized.

These arguments factor into the dark shadow lurking behind all the praise about the export of South Korea’s first nuclear power plant model. Environmental activists are noting that the dazzling copy about the largest power plant export in South Korea’s history masks continued concerns about environmental safety. In particular, they are pointing out that while the Lee administration is heralding a “nuclear power Renaissance” and talking up nuclear power as a green energy resource, safety concerns and other issues remain topics of debate within the international community. Indeed, nuclear power, unlike other renewal energy sources like wind and solar power, is not included in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), an instrument for greenhouse gas reductions included under article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol. Although countries like France and Japan place a high emphasis on nuclear power and have been arguing for its inclusion, no conclusion was reached on the matter at the recent climate change conference in Copenhagen.

Environmental activists are also claiming that the benefits of nuclear power plant construction as a future industry are questionable, since global demand for nuclear power plant construction is not very large and Korea still has not secured original technology. “There is a demand for new plants mainly in countries where civil society is not active, like China and countries in the Middle East, but there is no explosive demand at the worldwide level,” said Energy Justice Actions head Lee Heon-seok. “Also, because we still do not have the original technology, nuclear power plants lack future prospects in industry terms,” Lee noted.

Yanglee Won-young, head of Korean Federation for Environmental Movement’s committee on climate and energy, says,　“Nuclear power may conceivably be a necessary temporary substitute for fossil fuels, but a better alternative would be to promote energy efficiency or develop renewable energy sources.” Yanglee added, “It is undesirable for South Korea to go all in on nuclear power.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]　


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2009/12/28 10:07 KST
S. Korea eyes nuclear plant deal from Turkey: officials


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http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/12/text-fwd-s-korea-becomes-worlds-6th.html
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Text Fwd: S. Korea becomes world's 6th nuclear reactor exporting nation

Text Fwd: S. Korea becomes world's 6th nuclear reactor exporting nation

Yonhap News
S. Korea becomes world's 6th nuclear reactor exporting nation
By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Yonhap) -- A deal that could amount to US$40 billion clinched Sunday by South Korea to build commercial reactors for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) heralds the emergence of the Asian country as the world's sixth commercial nuclear exporting nation.

The $20 billion agreement between a consortium led by the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. calls for the building of four 1,400-megawatt light water nuclear reactors by 2020 near Sila on the Persian Gulf 330 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi. With post-construction maintainance and management contracts the deal could reach $40 billion, officials said.

The reactors are to be the indigenously developed APR-1400 units currently being built in South Korea.

In the past, only the United States, France, Canada, Russia and Japan have won overseas deals to build nuclear reactors, with South Korea only managing to sell components used for reactors and nuclear facilities.

The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said the KEPCO-led consortium made up of such companies as Hyundai Corp., Samsung C&T Corp. and Doosan Heavy and Engineering Co., sidestepped stiff competition from France's energy giant Areva SA and the partnership made up of General Electric Co. of the United States and Hitachi Ltd. of Japan.

U.S. energy firm Westinghouse Electric Co. and Japan's Toshiba Corp. will also benefit from the deal by providing components to Doosan.

The knowledge economy ministry said securing the contract marks the first time Seoul won the rights to sell a complete commercial atomic reactor abroad despite having developed knowhow to design and build its own indigenous reactors without outside help.

"The UAE deal is testament to the competitiveness and technological prowess enjoyed by South Korea in this sector after beginning its commercial nuclear generation in the 1970s," said Na Ki-yong, head of the ministry's nuclear energy division.

He claimed that by winning the deal there will be greater global recognition for South Korean reactors that could help the South Korean industry grab further orders down the road.

The official said that the construction agreement could grow to $40 billion if Seoul provides nuclear fuel, helps manage the plants and conducts maintenance over the next 60 years. It may also help create 11,000 jobs in the country for the next 10 years.

"The reactor deal is equivalent to the sale of 1 million Hyundai NF Sonata sedans, 62 Airbus A380 double-decker passenger jets and 180,300,000-ton tankers," he claimed.

Other experts said that the UAE agreement is expected to give South Korea an edge when it bids to win prospective construction deals in Turkey and Jordan.

Turkey said that it wants to build a second nuclear power plant in the Sinop region, while Jordan has expressed plans to construct two 1 million kilowatt reactors near Aqaba.

South Korea, which is one of the few countries in the world to have continuously built nuclear power reactors after it first unit went on line in 1978, may be able to play a role in the building of reactors in the United States, China and India down the road.

Many North American and European countries had halted new construction after the Chernobyl disaster and Three Mile Island incidents.

Washington and New Delhi plan to build 30 and 50 new reactors in the coming years, while Beijing said that it intends to increase its nuclear energy output from 9 million kilowatts in 2008 to 86 million kilowatts by 2020.

Janice Dunn Lee, deputy chief of the Paris-based Nuclear Energy Agency, said that about 50 countries around the world with no past experience have shown interest in building up their nuclear energy capabilities.

It said there may be upwards of 1,040 nuclear reactors in operation around the world by 2050, from around 440 today.

KEPCO, South Korea's state-operated power supplier, attributed the deal to price competitiveness, high "capacity factor" and proven track record in safety.

In 2008, the capacity factor or average operational rate stood at 93.3 percent which is 14 percent higher than the world average, while there have been no serious accidents in over 30 years of operating nuclear power.

South Korea is the fifth largest operator of nuclear power in the world with 20 commercial reactors accounting for 36 percent of all electricity generated in the country. It plans to build 12 new reactors by 2022 with eight to be in operation by 2016.

"The country has accumulated extensive infrastructure to build and maintain nuclear power reactors with over 20,000 experts in this field. Such a solid base has made it possible for the country to build reactors faster than competitors," a KEPCO spokesman said. Faster construction time translates into a cut in building costs.

He claimed South Korea has been able to construct a reactor in about 52 months in the past, while in the United States it took 57 months and 60 months for France.

yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


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http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post.html
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Text Fwd: Lee Visits UAE for Nuclear Power Plant Deal


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Yonhap News
S. Korea signs nuclear deal worth potential US$40 bln with UAE
ABU DHABI, Dec. 27 (Yonhap)

Yonhap News
(News Analysis) S. Korea wins chance to become nuclear powerhouse with UAE deal

Text Fwd: Lee Visits UAE for Nuclear Power Plant Deal

* Image source: same as the article below

Korea Times
12-26-2009 06:28
Lee Visits UAE for Nuclear Power Plant Deal
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak is to leave for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saturday for a summit with President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on a nuclear power plant deal, Cheong Wa Dae announced Friday.

The summit diplomacy comes at a time when Abu Dhabi's choice of developer for a nuclear power plant is nearing, officials said. The President is to return home Sunday.

The presidential office said that Lee decided to visit the Middle East country as Abu Dhabi is scheduled to choose the developer this month.

Companies from four countries _ Korea, France, the United States and Japan _ have submitted bids for the project.

According to the presidential office, the Korean bidder is a consortium of the Korea Electric Power Corp., Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and Samsung C&T Corp.

[* Lee Myung-Bak was a Hyundai Engineering and Construction man before entering the politics, Click HERE.]

The office said the nuclear plant project is known to be large, but that the exact scale has yet to be confirmed.

It added that if Korea is chosen as the developer, its effect on the economy will be immense.

Since 1978 when the first commercial nuclear power plant was built in Korea, a total of 20 reactors have been introduced, providing almost 40 percent of the country's electricity.

Korea imports about 97 percent of its energy resources. Power generation through new nuclear facilities is expected to increase by 56 percent by 2020.

Since his inauguration early last year, Lee has called for ``green growth'' as a new growth strategy.

Nuclear energy produces virtually no emissions and as a result, few negative effects on the atmosphere. The government has considered it as the most suitable alternative energy source, given that it helps reduce green house gas emissions.

The market for nuclear power plants is growing worldwide. The government expects nuclear power plant technology to be another engine for growth, following semiconductors, ship- building and automobiles.

Lee Dong-kwan, senior presidential secretary for public affairs, told reporters that ``if Korea is chosen as the developer for the UAE project, it will mean the country's overall triumph in technology, diplomacy, and negotiations.''

Korea has three competitive edges in nuclear power plants. It is ahead of the other countries in meeting construction deadlines, is price competitive and has successfully run nuclear power plants at a time when other countries have scaled down the addition of new facilities out of concerns over safety.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr


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(LEAD) President Lee heads to UAE to help sell nuclear power plants
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Yonhap)