Domestic nuclear power plants have developed radiological emergency plans based on the USNRC’s NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-Rev.1 report and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety’s (KINS) research report on radiation emergency criteria for power reactors (KINS/RR-12). NUREG-0654 is a US emergency planning guide for nuclear power plants and provides detailed technical requirements for the content of radiological emergency plans. The document classifies radiological emergencies into three levels: Alert, Site Area Emergency, and General Emergency, which correspond to the white, blue, and red emergency levels used in domestic nuclear power plants. KINS/RR-12 is a technical guidance document published by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety in 2012, which divides radiological emergency criteria into criteria for pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and criteria for boiling water reactors (BWRs), and describes in detail the regulatory position and implementation of radiological emergency criteria for domestic PWRs and BWRs. The physical protection-related radiation emergency criteria included in the radiological emergency plan are specified in the radiological emergency criteria guidelines. There are two items each related to white and blue emergencies and one item related to red emergencies. Standard order of emergency plan lists the physical protection-related radiological emergency criteria for domestic PWRs and BWRs, which are identical according to the radiological emergency criteria guidelines. To enhance the physical protection regulation, the legal and regulatory basis for target set identification and vital area identification need to be established by considering radiological and physical protection emergency plan.

Domestic nuclear facilities establish a physical protection system to respond to illegal transfer of nuclear materials and sabotage to nuclear materials and nuclear facilities, and operate a security search system in order to prevent the entry of controlled items into the facility. X-ray security search is also the most widely used for such security search. Since 2018, Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control (KINAC) has developed the “X-ray security screening Web-Based Training Program (XWBT)” and has been using it in the physical protection education. The XWBT contains about 700 X-ray images of the item, and can learn X-ray images by type or package of the item. In addition, trainees can practice reading the X-ray image of the item or package, looking for controlled items, and determining whether the item could be passed or opened. However, there is a limit to Web-Based X-ray training program alone. This is because even if the same item is contained in the same bag, the X-ray image could be varied depending on the direction, angle, and other items in the package. Therefore, in addition to XWBT, X-ray reading practice education for actual luggage should be conducted in parallel. In addition, trainees should be familiar with various images through repetitive X-ray reading practice training so that they should be able to intuitively read X-ray images and find controlled items. Therefore, securing educational time is essential to produce skilled trainees. Korea Aviation Security Academy (KASA), which produces professional security inspectors, has established and operated a “Security search education filed for actual luggage” where trainees can pack their own bags, read X-ray images, and practice whether there are controlled items packed. In addition, KASA provides 40-hour training for security search personnel, which focuses on improving the practical skills that security search personnel must have. This study describes the current status of “X-ray Security Search” of Physical Protection Education for security personnel and presents course improvements through the case of KASA.