• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.2-10
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• 2020

Background: Huge amounts of radionuclides were released into the environment due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, which caused not only serious contamination on the ground, but also radiation exposure to the public. One problem that remains in performing the dose estimation is the difficulty of estimating the internal thyroid dose due to the intake of radioiodine (mainly, ¹³¹I) because of limitations to the human data available. Materials and Methods: The relevant papers were collected and reviewed by the authors. The results of thyroid dose estimates from different studies were tabulated for comparison. Results and Discussion: The thyroid dose estimates from the studies varied widely. The dose estimates by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation were higher than the others due to the ingestion dose being based on conservative assumptions. The dose estimates by Japanese experts were mostly below 20-30 mSv. The recent studies suggested that exposure on March 12, 2011 would be crucial for late evacuees from the areas near the FD-NPP because of the possible intake of short-lived radionuclides other than ¹³¹I. Further multilateral studies are vital to reduce uncertainties in the present dose estimations. Conclusion: The estimation of the thyroid doses to Fukushima residents still has many uncertainties. However, it is considered unlikely that the thyroid doses exceeded 50 mSv except in some extreme cases. Further multilateral studies are thus necessary to reduce the uncertainties in the present dose estimations.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2018

In 1995, the WTO started to ease the trade barriers. Globalization has accelerated. The opening of the agricultural products market is rapidly gaining momentum with the conclusion of an FTA. The acceleration of this FTA is expected to be a threat to Korea's agriculture, and a new strategy is needed. At the beginning of the nuclear accident, mainly radioactive materials are found in the surface layer of the soil. Over time, the concentration of the plant gradually increases. After 5 years, it becomes noticeable. In March 2016, it will be five years after the nuclear accident. Radioactive contamination is very likely to occur in agricultural products produced in the Fukushima area at this time. In this period, agricultural products produced in the Fukushima region are expected to generate supply disruptions in Japan, and imports to replace them will increase. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a mid- and long-term strategy for exporting to Japan by analyzing the competitiveness of Korean agricultural products. In this study, standardization index was derived by using agricultural price ratio, TSI, export CAC. Based on this, we analyzed the competitiveness of each item in the Japanese market. The analysis shows that garlic is the most competitive product in the Japanese market. Also, strawberry, tomato, and cucumber were found to be competitive. On the other hand, Kiwi, pineapple, soybean, onion, potato, etc. As a result of the analysis, the following strategies were proposed for the export of agricultural products with high competitiveness. First, it is necessary to develop technology to suppress deterioration of export transportation quality. Second, continuous supply of local consumption pattern information is required. Third, it is necessary to expand exports by processing fresh food. Fourth, it suggested the establishment of export base and strengthening of support system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.174-184
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of elementary school teachers on the socio-scientific issues. Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident was used by concrete issue connected with SSI for this study. Participants in this study were twelve elementary school teachers studying at K University Graduate School of Education, located in the central region, who underwent a semi-structured interview. The study method was the phenomenological research method which is one of the qualitative research methods, and the interview papers had been examined by three scientific experts. As a result of the study, it was divided into twenty six themes, eight theme clusters, and two categories, and considered the thoughts on the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, its influence on Korea, the relationship between science and society as a result of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, interested in social issues related to science, application in class, response from students and the influence on students. Teachers had a general understanding of science-related social issues, but did not have much interest in the subject. However, they mentioned that to apply the issues in the curriculum would have a positive influence and encourage scientific motivation in students and, furthermore, helped them to develop the awareness of science in their surroundings. A greater interest in socio-scientific issues need to require from teachers and, through including these issues in the curriculum, we should have positive influence in developing science education.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

This paper describes the radiation doses to human and non-human biota in the Republic of Korea, as a result of the Fukushima nuclear accident. By using the measured airborne activity and ground deposition, the effective and thyroid doses of five human age groups (infant, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and adult) were estimated by the ECOSYS code, and the whole body absorbed dose rate of the eight Korean reference animals and plants (RAPs) was estimated by the K-BIOTA (the Korean computer code to assess the risk of radioactivity to wildlife). The first-year effective and thyroid human doses ranged from 5.7E-5 mSv in the infant group to 2.0E-4 mSv in the 5 years group, and from 5.0E-4 mSv in the infant group to 3.4E-3 mSv in the 5 years group, respectively. The life-time (70 years) effective and thyroid human doses ranged from 1.5E-4 mSv in the infant group to 3.0E-4 mSv in the 5 years group, and from 6.0E-4 mSv in the infant group to 3.5E-3 mSv in the 5 years group, respectively. The estimated maximum whole body absorbed dose rate to the Korean RAPs was 6.7E-7 mGy/d for a snake living in soil (terrestrial biota), and 2.0E-5 mGy/d for freshwater fish (aquatic biota), both of which were far less than the generic dose criteria to protect biota from ionizing radiation. Also, the screening level assessment for ERICA's (Environmental Risks from Ionizing Contaminants: Assessments and management) limiting organisms showed that the risk quotient (RQ) for the estimated maximum soil and water activity was significantly less than unity for both the terrestrial and freshwater organisms. Conclusively, the radiological risk of the radioactivity released into the environment by the Fukushima nuclear accident to the public and the non-human biota in the republic of Korea is considered negligible.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.281-287
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• 2013

Based on surveys of Busan residents, this study aimed to analyze general perception: radiation knowledge, recognition of the standard of knowledge, radiation benefits, recognition of the risks of nuclear power, collection of information on the Fukushima nuclear accident, recognition of changes before and after the Fukushima nuclear accident, and the path of collecting information about nuclear power and radiation. This analysis was based on 414 people who reside in Busan metropolitan city. It has been found that the Busan metropolitan city residents acknowledged the necessity of radiation in principle, however, most have negative awareness relating to safety. It is assumed that this negative awareness is a result from past nuclear power plant accidents, rather than being based on their own knowledge of radiation. Therefore, it is considered that efforts to change people's awareness necessitate education of the public. This can be done via media, widening the range of people's knowledge, and furthermore, promoting changes within people's awareness and perspectives.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2014

After the nuclear accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants (FDNPPs) on 11 March 2011, a large amount of radioactive materials has been released into the atmosphere and the ocean. A compartment model is used to evaluate the circulation characteristics and the spatiotemporal concentration distributions of radionuclides in the ocean. In the comparison with observed concentrations of $^{137}Cs$ in seawater, calculated concentrations by the compartment model were well agreed with them. On the basis of these results, we performed evaluation of the effective dose and the cancer risk. In the early stage of the accident, the effective doses from ingestion of the seafood near the Fukushima region were much higher than 1 mSv which is the value of the annual effective dose limit to individual recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). However, the effective doses by ingestion of the seafood decreased below 1 mSv as distance from the FDNPPs increased and time passed. In addition, it was estimated that the cancer risks by intake of the contaminated marine products were less than natural occurrence probability of cancer. Consequently, it was inferred that the health risk due to the $^{137}Cs$ was low after since mid-term period of the accident.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.223-232
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• 2021

The spatial variation characteristics of seismic motions at the nuclear power plant's site and structures were analyzed using earthquake records obtained at the Fukushima nuclear power plant during the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ground responses amplified as they approached the soil surface from the lower rock surface, and the amplification occurred intensively at about 50 m near the ground. Due to the soil layer's nonlinear characteristics caused by the strong seismic motion, the ground's natural frequency derived from the response spectrum ratio appeared to be smaller than that calculated from the shear wave velocity profile. The spatial variation of the peak ground acceleration at the ground surface of the power plant site showed a significant difference of about 0.6 g at the maximum. As a result of comparing the response spectrums at the basement of the structure with the design response spectrum, there was a large variability by each power plant unit. The difference was more significant in the Fukushima Daiichi site record, which showed larger peak ground acceleration at the surface. The earthquake motions input to the basement of the structure amplified according to the structure's height. The natural frequency obtained from the recorded results was lower than that indicated in the previous research. Also, the floor response spectrum change according to the location at the same height was investigated. The vertical response on the foundation surface showed a significant difference in spectral acceleration depending on the location. The amplified response in the structure showed a different variability depending on the type of structure and the target frequency.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2020

The internet of things (IoT) using cloud computing is applied to nuclear industry in which the nuclear power plant (NPP) accident is analyzed for the safety assessment. The Fukushima NPP accident is modeled for the accident simulations where the earthquake induced plant failure accident is used for analyzing the cloud computing technology. The fast and reasonable treatment in the natural disaster was needed in the case of the Fukushima. The real time safety assessment (RTSA) and the Monte-Carlo real time assessment (MCRTA) are constructed. This cloud computing could give the practicable method to prepare for the future similar accident.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze the structural relationship between radiation hazards and radiation benefits effecting on overcoming recognition of Fukushima nuclear disaster (FND) in Japan by using structural equation modeling (SEM). The subjects were 248 undergraduates from one university in Chungbuk province in Korea. From June 1, 2017 to July 30, 2017, we conducted a questionnaire survey on the radiation hazards and radiation benefits and on the overcoming recognition of FND. As a result, it showed that the recognition of radiation hazards has a significant effect on the benefits of radiation, but does not directly affect the overcoming recognition of FND. However, the recognition of radiation benefits has been mediating between radiation hazards perception and the overcoming recognition of FND. Therefore, it can be empirically confirmed that despite the radiation hazards the recognition of overcoming the FND depends on the level of radiation benefits by using the SEM.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.172-195
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• 2015

Multiple nationwide opinion surveys, carried out by the government (cabinet office), major media (national newspapers and NHK), the National Institute for Environmental Studies, and the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, have revealed that the Fukushima nuclear accident has heightened people's perception of disaster risks, fear of nuclear accidents, and increased recognition of pollution issues, and has changed public opinion on nuclear energy policy. The opinion gap on nuclear energy policy between specialists and lay people has widened since the disaster. The results of the Japanese General Social Survey data show that objections to the promotion of nuclear energy are strong among females, and weaker among young males and the supporters of the LDP. These findings are similar to the data collected after the Chernobyl accident. People who live in a 70km radius of nuclear plants tend to evaluate nuclear disaster risks higher. Distance from nuclear plants and the perception of earthquake risk interactively correlate with opinions on nuclear issues. Among people whose evaluation of earthquake risk is low, those who live nearer to the plants are more likely to object to the abolishment of nuclear plants. It was also found that the nuclear disaster has changed people's behavior; they now try to save electricity. The level of commitment to energy saving is found to relate to opinions on nuclear issues.