Location: Yŏnggwang-kun, South Chŏlla Province, South Korea

Address: 514 Kyemari, Hongnong-ŭp, Yŏnggwang-kun, South Chŏlla Province, 513-882, South Korea
  
Telephone Number: +82-61-357-2114

Subordinate to: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (한국수력원자력주)

Size: 1,000MW(e) pressurized light water reactor (PWR)

Primary Function: Production of electricity

Description: Yŏnggwang-3 is South Korea’s tenth nuclear power reactor. Yŏnggwang-3 was constructed under the third phase of South Korea’s nuclear power program, which called for self-reliance in nuclear technology. Under this phase, South Korea planned to standardize the design of nuclear power plants and achieve technological self-sufficiency. In order to meet these goals, the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) concluded a ten-year agreement with ABB-CE in 1987 for the transfer of documentation, computer codes, the training for Korean engineers, participation in research and development programs, and consultation. Beginning with the construction of Yŏnggwang-3, KEPCO used Korean firms as primary contractors for the provision of major equipment and engineering services. Foreign firms serving as subcontractors were selected through competitive bidding and were required to accept a technology transfer agreement as part of the contract.

Yŏnggwang-3 was jointly designed by ABB-CE and the Korea Power Engineering Company (KOPEC).  KOPEC also worked with Sargent & Lundy to provide architect and engineering services.  Korea Heavy Industries and Construction Corporation (Hanjung) worked with ABB-CE and GE to provide primary system components. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Korea Nuclear Fuels in collaboration with ABB-CE designed the nuclear steam supply system and initial core design. Hyundai Engineering and Construction Corporation provided construction services.

Yŏnggwang-3 is a 1,000MW(e) pressurized light water reactor based on the ABB-CE 2-loop System 80 design. The power plant is different from other designs in that it contains two safety divisions arranged symmetrically around a common centerline and most of the contaminated and sensitive systems are located in a secondary building isolated from the safety units. In addition, the primary and secondary auxiliary buildings were constructed with reinforced concrete for greater safety. The steam supply systems have larger pressurizers, increased secondary side water volume, greater pumping capacity, greater moisture removal, and higher steam pressure, which all contribute to the efficiency of the turbine generator. Yŏnggwang-3 and -4 served as the model for the Korean Standard Nuclear Power (KSNP). Construction for Yŏnggwang-3 began in December 1989, and the reactor commenced commercial operation in March 1995. Yŏnggwang-3 experienced its first accident on 25 November 2003 when the plant was shut down due to a malfunction in the power supply system. There were no radiation leaks outside of the facility and the reactor resumed operations following an investigation by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) on 27 November 2003.

Key sources: Ministry of Science and Technology, <http://www.most.go.kr>; Ministry of Science and Technology, Wŏnjaryŏk Anjŏnbaeksŏ (Seoul: MOST, 2003); Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP),“ Hansuwŏn Paljŏnsohyŏnghwang,” <http://www.khnp.co.kr/korea_map/korea.html>; Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), “Hŏesa Soge,” <http://www.khnp.co.kr/company/company_c.html>; Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, <http://www.kins.re.kr>; IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), <http://www.iaea.org/dbpage/>; Regis A. Matzie and Ki In Han, “The Evolutionary Development of Advanced Reactors,” The Uranium Institute Twenty Third Annual International Symposium 1998, World Nuclear Association Symposium Proceedings, <http://www.world-nuclear.org/sym/1998/matzie.htm>; “Yonggwang, Republic of Korea,” Power, April 1996, p. 33, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Wilson Dizard III, “KEPCO’s Yonggwang-3 is Commercial as ABB-CE Gains $200-Million Pact,” Nucleonics Week, 6 April 1995, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Yonhap News Agency, 25 November 2003, in “S Korea Shuts Down Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant Due to ‘Malfunction’,” BBC Monitoring International Reports, 25 November 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), “Wŏnjŏnsagŏn Chŏngbogŏmsaek,” <http://www.khnp.co.kr/youngkwg/index.jsp>.

	Updated October 2004