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208 kg of heavy water leaked from Wolsong-4 reactor; no radiation issue reported

Created at 1 Jul · 11:10 PM1 source
IN SHORT

A leak of 208 kilograms of heavy water occurred at the Wolsong-4 reactor in Gyeongju, South Korea, earlier this week. Nuclear safety officials confirmed no radiation issues were detected, and the water did not escape the facility. The reactor has been shut down for regular inspection.

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Key Numbers

208 kgheavy water leaked from Wolsong-4 reactor
2:26 p.m. on Wednesdaytime of reported leak
9 p.m. Wednesdaytime of leak estimate

Who's Involved

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP)
Reported the heavy water leak at Wolsong-4 reactor
Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
Received report of the leak and plans on-site inspection
208 kg of heavy water leaked from Wolsong-4 reactor; no radiation issue reported

↳ Why This Matters

The incident highlights ongoing safety protocols and monitoring at nuclear facilities, even during routine inspections, to prevent environmental contamination and ensure public safety.

Key facts

  • A leak of 208 kg of heavy water occurred at the Wolsong-4 reactor in Gyeongju.
  • No radiation issues were detected following the leak.
  • The leaked heavy water did not escape the facility.
  • The Wolsong-4 reactor was undergoing a regular inspection when the leak happened.

A leakage of 208 kilograms of heavy water occurred at South Korea's Wolsong-4 nuclear reactor earlier this week, officials confirmed on Thursday. The incident at the reactor in Gyeongju, which has been shut down for a regular inspection since July, was reported by state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Nuclear safety officials stated that no radiation issues were detected and the leaked water did not escape the facility. An on-site inspection by experts is planned. The KHNP indicated that related pumps were immediately closed upon detection of the leak.

Frequently asked questions

The article does not specify the exact cause of the leak, only that it occurred while the reactor was shut down for a regular inspection.

No, nuclear safety officials confirmed that no irregularities in external radiation levels were detected.

No, the commission stated that the leaked heavy water did not escape outside the facility.

Heavy water is a form of water in which the hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen. It is used as a moderator in some types of nuclear reactors.

What Happens Next

01Experts will conduct an on-site inspection of the Wolsong-4 reactor.

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How It Developed

A leakage of heavy water occurred at the Wolsong-4 reactor in Gyeongju.
The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. reported the incident to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission.
No irregularities in external radiation levels were detected.
An estimated 208 kilograms of heavy water leaked but remained within the facility.
The Wolsong-4 reactor was shut down for a regular inspection at the time of the leak.

Sources

T1
208 kg of heavy water leaked from Wolsong-4 reactor; no radiation issue reportedYonhap News Agency

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