South Korea’s oldest nuclear reactor is set to restart after a four-month closure, despite strong opposition from local residents and activists.

The Kori-1 reactor in Busan was shut down on 13 March, after it was revealed that the reactor and its emergency generator had temporarily lost power during routine maintenance the month before, causing the coolant temperature to rise.

AP/Press Association

The power failure did not cause an accident, but a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna discovered that senior engineers from Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, which runs the reactor, had neglected the safety problems for more than a month after the loss of power.

In June, after a safety check, the IAEA gave the green light for Kori-1 to resume operation. Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission(NSSC) approved the restart on 4 July, but activists and local residents remain strongly opposed to restarting the reactor.

At first, the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy, which oversees energy policy, had said that the restart would be delayed to alleviate anxiety. But the government changed its mind as a result of a nationwide heatwave that has put a strain on the country’s electricity supply in recent days.

Power for the people

"We keep talking with residents but reaching a consensus is expected to take time. There is no choice but to restart the operation of the Kori-1 reactor on 3 August at the latest," said Sukwoo Hong, the minister of knowledge economy, at a press conference on 26 July.

Hiromitsu Ino, an emeritus professor of materials science at the University of