Speaker: Dr. John P. DiMoia, Assistant Professor, Department of History (Modern Korea) &
STS Research Cluster (History of Medicine), National University of Singapore.
Date: Friday, 1st October 2010
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 noon
Venue: ESI Conference Room
29 Heng Mui Keng Terrace
Block A #10-01
Singapore 119620
For those interested in attending, please e-register here.
About the Seminar
The announcement of the sale of “Korean” reactor technology to the UAE by a consortium of suppliers led by Hyundai made headlines in Seoul and other parts of Asia in early 2010. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak even went so far as to assume personal credit on behalf of his nation in a press conference. While the media in the region and elsewhere mainly focused on the commercial significance of South Korea beating all its major competitors, including France, the phenomenal technological achievement of South Korea and, in fact, its reason, in developing a highly competitive nuclear industry were mainly ignored. The nuclear industry’s roots can be traced back to the aftermath of the Korean War (1950-1953).
In his presentation, Dr. DiMoia will elaborate on the development of the South Korean nuclear
energy industry through his focus on three distinct periods: (1) the build-up of nuclear technology on the Korean peninsula in the 1950’s (1955-1959) as the South Koreans made the initial decision to begin a reactor research program; (2) the subsequent decision to pursue commercial nuclear energy, a move undertaken in the aftermath of the 1973 world oil crisis (1973-1978); and finally, the recent decision to market Korean technology, resulting in the successful bid of 2010, with perhaps more sales to follow.
Apart from its commercial value, the UAE deal symbolically indicates decades of work towards
establishing a South Korean nuclear industry prompted by the reality of the Korean Peninsula’s
division and the strong urge among the South Koreans to outshine their hostile northern brethren. Within this context, the will, determination and skills of the South Koreans have surely been major factors for their nuclear success, but the claim for “Korean” technology can be easily challenged based on facts. Thus, rather than representing a smooth narrative of success and progress based on indigenous technology within a self-created favourable regional consensus, the South Korean nuclear energy program has always been intertwined with its ties and cooperation with other international actors helping it achieve its objectives in pursuit of their national interests, both in terms of South Korea’s diplomatic relations (with North Korea and Japan) and also for technology exchange (with the United States and Canada).
About the Speaker
Dr. John P. DiMoia is an Assistant Professor in the
Department of History at the National University of Singapore. Having a
Ph.D. from Princeton University with a focus on the origins and development of South Korea’s science and technology institutions, he is an expert
on the Korean Peninsula concentrating particularly on nuclear issues. Being
fluent in Korean, over time he has resided in South Korea for more than
four years where he visits every year for research purposes on his area of&
focus. His understanding of the complex issue of nuclear energy in South
Korea has been enriched thanks to the South Korean government’s availing
to him its documents pertaining to its nuclear program added to those provided by the University of Michigan. These documents covered the crucial
years of 1955-1962 and 1969-1974 when the South Koreans were building
and orientating their nuclear energy program. Among his major ongoing
publication projects, Dr. DiMoia is currently working on Visions of Light, a
book project on issues related to power generation, electrification, hydroelectric and nuclear programs in and around the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria, covering the period since the late 19th
century.
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