S. Korean minister stresses nuclear safety

(ATTN: ADDS with more comments by minister in paras 6-7; UPDATES with more details in paras 8-9)
SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea needs to strengthen its nuclear reactor safety protocol to ensure there are no problems with its atomic power production, the commerce minister said Monday.
The remarks come amid growing concern over the safety of atomic energy after the disastrous earthquake in Japan damaged reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, prompting radiation leaks.
"There is a need to pay close attention to emergency training programs and make certain that backup safety systems are in place and can cope with unexpected developments," Knowledge Economy Minister Choi Joong-kyung said during a visit to the Yeonggwang nuclear power station on the country's west coast.
"As can be seen in Japan's Fukushima nuclear station crisis, minor problems can lead to serious consequences," he told officials from the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP). He added even the slightest mistake cannot be tolerated since it could affect public confidence in nuclear power.
The Fukushima plant was hit by a record magnitude-9.0 quake and massive tsunami that cut off power to its reactors, causing them to overheat and explode. The so-called hydrogen explosions caused radioactive material to be released into the environment.
Choi, in addition, stressed that because of the need to stem global warming and meet growing energy consumption, South Korea has no choice but to expand its nuclear power capabilities.
"Nuclear power is the only viable means to ensure South Korea maintains its economic competitiveness," he said.
Seoul started a detailed examination of its oldest reactor on Friday after an electrical glitch caused the 587-megawatt unit to go offline on April 12.
Initially, the 33-year-old reactor located in the northeastern part of Busan, South Korea's largest port, should have been turned back on in a few days, but policymakers decided to check all systems thoroughly to alleviate growing public concerns. Results of the review along with safety checks on all other reactors in the country should be released next month.
The policymaker, meanwhile, said that South Korea has made considerable strides in the nuclear sector in the past decades and has recently emerged as an exporter of nuclear power.
At present, the country operates 21 commercial reactors with electricity generating capacity of 18.720 megawatts, or roughly 30 percent of the country's electricity needs as of late March.
yonngong@yna.co.kr