Scandal shuts down Korean nuclear plant

Some 7,000 substandard parts causes closure.

The government said it had shut down operations at the nuclear reactors at the Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant after discovering the plant using parts with forged quality certificates. It did not identify the parts involved but said their failure wouldn’t cause a radiation leak.

Of immediate concern to the government is that taking both reactors offline to deal with the parts problem is causing an unprecedented level of strain on South Korea’s power supply as winter approaches.

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said the plant operator, Korean Hydro & Nuclear Power Company, found that eight suppliers had sold it 7,682 items with forged quality certificates between 2003 and 2012. The total value of the products was some US$750,000.

Most of those parts are being used at the two reactors at the Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant in the southwest. The plant’s two reactors will be shut down until at least the end of the year in order to replace all the substandard parts.

The two reactors account for about 5% of South Korea's national power supply, according to the government. Their suspension will significantly reduce the amount of energy supply that South Korea holds in reserve each day during January and February.