Assessment of Potential Storm Surge Hazards at Nuclear Power Plant Sites on Korea’s Eastern Coast

The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, caused by tsunami inundation, highlighted the severe risks facing coastal nuclear power plants (NPPs) owing to marine hazards. Motivated by this event, this study quantitatively evaluates storm surge hazards at four NPP sites (Kori, Saeul, Weolseong, and Hanul) along Korea’s eastern coast, where storm surges pose greater risks than tsunamis. Approximately 3,000 synthetic typhoons were generated using the tropical cyclone risk model (TCRM), and 37 scenarios were simulated with the advanced circulation (ADCIRC) model; validation was performed using Typhoon Maemi (0314). The key meteorological parameters (central pressure, maximum wind speed, and the radius of maximum wind) as well as the closest approach distance were evaluated against maximum storm surge height (MSSH) and time-integrated storm surge height (TISSH). The MSSH increased with lower central pressure, higher wind speed, and smaller radius of maximum wind, and decreased with greater closest approach distance. The Kori and Saeul NPPs were more sensitive to the MSSH, whereas the Hanul NPP showed a small MSSH because typhoons did not directly approach, but prolonged water level rise caused a large TISSH. These findings indicate that storm surge hazards are governed by typhoon intensity and track proximity, and indices, such as TISSH, are essential for assessing sustained inundation and overtopping.