The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said on the 9th that it received a report that an abnormal radiation exposure incident occurred at Hospital A in Gijang County, Busan, and immediately launched an investigation.
According to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Hospital A reported the matter at about 3:30 p.m. that day. The incident occurred at about 8:36 a.m. the same day in the hospital's accelerator room.
At the time, an employee of a fire protection company was inside the accelerator room, but another employee, unaware of this, is believed to have operated the accelerator from the control room. Afterward, as the fire protection company employee inside opened the door to exit, the interlock engaged and halted the radiation exposure.
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission estimates the radiation exposure lasted about 11 minutes, from 8:36 a.m. to 8:47 a.m.
Accordingly, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission requested an immediate investigation by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS). Going forward, it plans to confirm the exact circumstances of the incident and whether there were violations of the Nuclear Safety Act through on-site inspections and interviews with the exposed individual. Based on the findings, the commission also plans to review any necessary follow-up measures.