South Korea, after trying and failing many times will finally chair the IAEA... What is the impact of the debate on treated water from nuclear power plants?

South Korea was unanimously elected as chair of the board of directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held in Vienna, Austria on the 27th. This is the first time since joining the IAEA as a founding member in 1957.

The IAEA is the highest authority international organization on nuclear issues with 173 member countries. The IAEA also discusses issues such as North Korea's nuclear issue, which is important for South Korea, and the stability of Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant discharge. Discussions will also be held here on international technology standards, regulations, etc. for the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology.

The IAEA Council, which consists of 35 countries, is an important voting body that discusses and deliberates on substantive cases of the IAEA and makes the necessary recommendations for the General Assembly. Until September next year, Ambassador Shin Jae Hee-young (pictured) of the Permanent Mission to Austria and Vienna will chair the board of directors, which will be held five times a year and twice a year under the umbrella of the board of directors. He will preside over a committee meeting.

An official of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "I tried for the chair in the past many times but failed." With so much diplomatic power, we have obtained the consent of other Far East groups, including Japan."

Nuclear experts hoped that South Korea would lead a new era of nuclear power and wisely resolve issues such as treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. In particular, as the nuclear power industry is overcoming the trauma of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, saw it as an important time for what role nuclear power will play in carbon neutrality.

“In order to achieve carbon neutrality, we must open up the market by preparing plans to build infrastructure, provide financial support, and spread the nuclear safety system to the international community” said Jung Dong-wook, chairman of the Korea Atomic Energy Society. I hope that it will become a country and exert its influence in the preparation of the international monitoring and supervision system for the treated water of the Fukushima nuclear power plant."