Effect of Fukushima accident on public acceptance of nuclear energy (Fukushima accident and nuclear public acceptance)

ABSTRACT

Since the Fukushima accident, the Korean public no longer perceives nuclear energy in the same way they used to. However, Korea needs nuclear power to achieve energy security and it is necessary to investigate the effects of the accident in order to improve the public acceptance of nuclear energy. This research therefore analyzes the public acceptance and its determinants using one-way ANOVA and the differences in means t-test. The analysis shows that the perceptions of risk and benefit have been aggravated since the accident and that the effect is stronger on risk perception. However, there was a steep increase in public acceptance from 2005 to 2010 owing to the first export of a Korean nuclear reactor to UAE. The government should therefore focus on endorsing the safety of nuclear energy and other measures to enhance public acceptance, such as exporting of nuclear reactors to enhance the image of nuclear energy.

KEYWORDS:

• Fukushima accident
• Korea
• nuclear energy
• public acceptance
• safety