• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.153-174
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• 2019

South Korea's energy policy has been historically established through an energy production structure that relies on thermal and nuclear power generation in relation to a centralized 'Hard Energy System'. However, climate change issues are forcing the transition to renewable energy, and it is crucial for local governments to enable this. This study analyses Seoul city's local energy governance, which is known as One Less Nuclear Power Plant Initiative, by applying the collaborative governance framework inspired by Ansell and Gash (2008) and the Reflexivity framework of Confucianism. It is considered that the local energy governance model of Seoul city can be used as a model by other local governments, and it will eventually lead to a decentralized energy system in this era of energy transition.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to find ways to build a desirable risk governance to respond to these uncertainties like such as increased risk due to the rapid development of modern science and technology in S. Korea. This study is about model of risk communication with scientific technology for additional construction of nuclear power plants. This study analyzed risk communication with scientific technology through new explanatory models between approval opinions of scientific professional group and opposition opinions of the public with Kori nuclear power plant of S. Korea. And then This study investigated related system for policy promotion in the field of nuclear energy of the current S. Korea. Consequently, Governance to strengthen the negotiations on nuclear technology at the time of the interaction in risk communication have been identified and the future of policy direction of the Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant was detected.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.60-72
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• 2022

The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) score is gaining recognition as important nonfinancial investment criteria. With climate change emerging as a global issue, energy companies must pay attention to the ESG impact on corporate performance. In this study, the ESG impact on the performance of energy companies was analyzed based on 23 companies selected from the S&P 500. The panel corrected standard error methodology was used. The Refinitiv ESG score was the independent variable, and financial performance metrics, such as Tobin's Q, return on assets, and return on equity, were the dependent variables. It was found that the ESG score is positively associated with long-term corporate value but not with short-term profitability in the electricity utility industry. Among the subcategories of ESG, the environmental and social scores also showed positive correlations with long-term corporate value. A direct incentive policy is recommended that can offset expenses for ESG activities to reduce carbon emission in the energy sector.

• Korean Journal of Legislative Studies
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.151-185
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• 2017

Seoul's One Less Nuclear Power Plant is the major urban energy policy launched in April 2012. Its effort to respond to climate change and energy crisis in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident turned out very successful, considering huge decrease of energy consumption. However, the question of how the cut of energy consumption was possible remains unanswered. This paper introduces the concept of urban governance capacity as the cause of the success. It is the managing and governing capability to maintain the logical consistency policy system, comprising of policy perception, goals, policy tools and evaluation. Without this logical correspondence between the policy factors, any system including energy regime easily falls apart during the systemic transitional period. Governance capacity provides the integrating framework, so that the system as a whole maintains the internal homeostasis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.1696-1707
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• 2019

This paper conducts a qualitative policy analysis of current challenges to safety culture and security culture in Southeast Asia and emerging best practices in Northeast Asia that are aimed at strengthening both cultures. It analyses lessons, including strengths and limitations, that can be derived from Northeast Asian states, given the long history of nuclear energy in South Korea, China and Japan. It identifies and examines best practices from Northeast Asia's Nuclear Security Centres of Excellence in terms of boosting nuclear security culture and their relevance for Southeast Asia. The paper accentuates the important role of the State in adopting policy and regulatory frameworks and in institutionalising nuclear education and training programmes to deepen the safety-security cultures. Best practices in and challenges to developing a nuclear safety culture and a security culture in East Asia are examined using three frameworks of analysis (i) a comprehensive nuclear policy framework; (ii) a proactive and independent regulatory body; and (iii) holistic nuclear education and training programmes. The paper argues that Southeast Asian states interested in harnessing nuclear energy and/or utilising radioactive sources for non-power applications must develop a comprehensive policy framework on developing safety and security cultures, a proactive regulatory body, and holistic nuclear training programmes that cover both technical and human factors. Such measures are crucial in order to mitigate human errors that may lead to radiological accidents and nuclear security crises. Key lessons from Japan, South Korea and China such as best practices and challenges can inform policy recommendations for Southeast Asia in enhancing safety-security cultures.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.563-573
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• 2019

The North Korean government conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and more recently the sixth nuclear test on September 3, 2017. In order to identify how North Korea's nuclear tests have affected the environment, a scientific approach is required. Although North Korea's nuclear tests and their environmental destruction are not a severe threat to the environment of the Korean Peninsula at this time, identifying environmental damage and taking countermeasures in advance are essential to minimize their potential threats to the environments. The purpose of this study is to study the environmental impact of North Korea's nuclear tests using Google Earth image analysis. As a method of the study, we compare Google Earth images taken before and after each nuclear test was conducted in North Korea. To overcome limitations of the suggested comparison method, we cross-checked our results with those of previous scientific research. After the 1st-3rd nuclear tests, green spaces were found to be considerably reduced. In particular, when comparing the Google Earth images before and after the second nuclear test, some ground subsidences were observed. Such subsidences can cause tunnels on the mountainsides and cracks in rocks around the mountains, leading to the release of radioactive materials and contaminating groundwater. Besides, after the 4th-6th nuclear tests, decay and deforestation were observed not in the nuclear test sites, but in their surrounding areas. Especially after the 5th and 6th nuclear tests, the topography and the forests of the surrounding areas were severely damaged. In relation to North Korea's nuclear tests and their impact on the natural environment, we need to prepare various policy measures to reduce North Korea's environmental pollution and natural environment destruction. Those policy measures include the establishment of various cooperative governance between the Korean government, the private sector, the academia, NGOs, and international organizations.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.3-43
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• 2015

This essay aims to search for the general tendency and characteristics of scientific citizenship, expert knowledge power, and governance in Korea, followed by the analysis of the citizen's perception survey on science and technology. Also, based on the analysis, we try to outline the state of scientific citizenship, and prospect its future. For this purpose, firstly, we choose 11 issues among 13 issues, categorize them into five sub-fields, such as reproduction technologies, nuclear power, climate change and energy, food risk, and information and communication, and analyze them. Consequently, we can pick out six general tendencies and characteristics of scientific citizenship, expert knowledge power, and governance in Korea. To sum up, we try to look ahead the future of scientific citizenship in Korea.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-103
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• 2019

In December 2017, the Moon Jae-in administration announced a major policy shift away from nuclear and coal, committing itself to the vision of creating a society where renewable sources account for 20% of its electricity generation by 2030. This energy transition involves not just a technical transition from conventional energy sources to renewable energy but also active participation of multiple stakeholders in the energy governance. While energy policy making has long been dominated by the central government in Korea with the aim of managing the supply for rapid industrialization and economic growth, the Moon administration aims to diffuse the central government's authority across various actors in society. Among those actors, this study focuses on the roles that local governments play in energy transition. Despite deepening local autonomy since 1995, Korean local governments have remained policy targets or recipients in the energy policy domain. This article discusses how such a traditional role has evolved under the new administration's energy transition policy and examines what challenges and limitations local governments face in creating a more decentralized energy governance system.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4236-4243
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• 2022

An industrial nuclear technique based on the use of an X-ray profiler was implemented to estimate the densities or concentrations of sediments present in an Atlantic maritime zone in the areas subjected to dredging under the governance of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). The sediment profiles show in most areas there is a concentration of between 1.00-1.15 g/cm³ except for one area in particular, the density starts at 1.20 g/cm³ and even reaches values greater than 1.50 g/cm³; therefore, an already consolidated sediment is present, which, depending on the depth found. Values of 1.265 g/cm³, 1.297 g/cm³, 1.185 g/cm³ obtained by ACP previous studies are within the range of 1.20-1.30 g/cm³ measured with the nucleonic gauge. However, it should be noted that during the tests with the X ray profiler, sediment densities values greater than the aforementioned limit were also obtained that varying according at depths close to 12 m and 18 m with values reached up to 1.513 g/cm³ and 1.60 g/cm³, respectively. This demonstrates that sediment accumulation depends on depth. This nucleonic gauge is feasible technique for the study of the sedimentation phenomenon in channel basins and even in other projects nationwide.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.253-258
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• 2008

우리나라에서 원자력 시설의 안전 확보를 위한 현장 규제는 원전 부지내에 설치되어 운용되고 있는 주재관실과 방사능 재난 발생에 대응하기 위한 현장방사능방재지휘센터 등으로 분산되어 있다. 원유 고유가, 에너지 안보, 및 기후 변화 협약 등에 대한 대응책으로, 신규 원자력 시설의 건설이 진행 중에 있으며, 이에 따라 원자력 규제 대상이 증가하고 있다. 지역주민이 신뢰하는 원자력 시설의 안전 규제의 필요성에 따라 현장 규제의 업무량도 증가하고 현장 규제 요건도 강화되고 있는 추세이다. 분산되어 있는 원자력 안전규제 시스템을 통합적인 체계로 전환하기 위한 방안들 가운데, 이 연구에서는 규제의 효율성/효과성을 향상시키기 위해 원자력 안전 지역사무소의 설치가 고려되었다. 이 연구의 주요 목적은 시스템 다이내믹스 기법을 활용한 지역사무소 설치의 타당성 모델을 제시하는 것이다. 이 SD 모델을 통해 지역사무소 설치가 규제 효과성을 포함한 다른 변수들에 미치는 영향을 전체론적 (holistic) 관점에서 평가할 수 있다. 이 SD 모델에서 이해관계자 (예: 중앙행정기관, 규제기관, 지방자지단체, NGO, 국민 등) 각각의 우선적인 목표는 갈등적 다중목표가 된다. 이러한 다중목표는 원자력 안전 규제의 의사결정 단계에서 거버넌스(governance) 체제 (예: 규제 기관, 사업자, 지역주민 등이 참여하는 체제)의 구축, 원자력 관련 민원 해결을 통해 성취될 수 있다. 시스템 다이내믹스 접근법의 주요 변수 정의 단계에서는 다양한 관점의 상호영향을 고려하면서 지역사무소 설치에 필요한 기본 개념이 도출되었다. 시스템 다이내믹스 접근법의 모델링 단계에서는 이들 기본 개념에서부터 지역사무소 설치 타당성 정책의 인과 지도(causal map)가 작성되었다. 이러한 인과 지도들로부터 지역사무소의 설치 타당성으로 이끄는 다양한 자기-강화 (self-reinforcing) 루프들이 발견되었다.