From Flaws to Pride: The Formation of the “Korean Standard” Nuclear Power Plant in South Korea, 1983-1996

This article examines how Korean nuclear technocrats formulated the concept of the “Korean standard” nuclear power plant in the 1980s and how its meaning shifted from a compromise to a symbol of national pride through the material realization of the Yeonggwang Units 3 and 4 construction projects. Initially seen as a flaw created by the active modification and adaptation of foreign standards within Korea’s limited technological environment, this concept was redefined as a creative transformation of foreign technologies through the actual construction of the plants by the 1990s. This shift, toward viewing the Korean standard reactor as a flawless achievement embodying Korea’s technological self-reliance, laid the foundation for a fervent techno-nationalist belief in the technological excellence and export potential of Korean-style reactors. By analyzing technical papers and reports written by Korean nuclear technocrats, this article highlights how the techno-nationalism, epitomized by the Korean standard, was reinforced through policy initiatives and material practices.