Korea secures sites for first i-SMR and two new nuclear power plants

Korea's state-run energy company has chosen Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang as the candidate site for two new large-scale nuclear reactors along with Gijang County in Busan as the candidate site for Korea’s first small modular reactor (SMR), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced Wednesday.

The decision marks the first time since 2011 that Korea has designated new sites for nuclear power plants and signals the country's acknowledgement of the growing demand for energy amid the rapid growth of AI and semiconductor production.

KHNP plans to begin licensing procedures, including a strategic environmental impact assessment, through early next year. The two sites were chosen after reviewing suitability, environmental impact, construction feasibility and public acceptance, according to the company.

The plan was finalized under the 11th Basic Plan for Long-Term Electricity Supply and Demand — an unofficial translation of the Korean title — last year. The two 1.4-gigawatt (GW) reactors are scheduled for completion in 2037 and 2038, while a 0.7-GW i-SMR is targeted for completion in 2035. i-SMR is Korea’s proprietary, next-generation SMR designed by KHNP.

Yeongdeok received strong evaluations for public acceptance, site suitability and transmission network costs. The proposed site spans 3.24 million square meters (800 acres), more than three times the minimum area required.

The county was previously selected in 2011 as the planned site for the Cheonji Units 1 and 2 nuclear reactors under the Lee Myung-bak administration. The process had begun to secure the land property, but the project was canceled during former President Moon Jae-in administration’s nuclear phaseout policy.

Gijang County similarly earned high marks for public acceptance, as well as for environmental considerations. Home to the Kori nuclear power complex, the country’s largest nuclear cluster, the area already possesses extensive nuclear infrastructure and a skilled workforce.

Selecting the site was considered the greatest obstacle to the process of constructing new power plants, meaning that the decision now puts the whole project firmly on track. Local governments hosting nuclear facilities are entitled to special support funds and annual subsidies linked to electricity generation, while the projects are expected to create jobs and stimulate regional economies.

“One of the main arguments against building additional reactors was that it would be difficult to secure a new site,” said Moon Joo-hyun, a professor of energy engineering at Dankook University. “This decision shows that local acceptance of nuclear power has improved compared to the past.”

In fact, 69.6 percent of respondents supported the construction of new nuclear power plants, according to a Gallup Korea survey conducted before the government finalized the projects earlier this year.

Another significant meaning comes from how small modular reactors (SMR) have been included in the project. SMRs require shorter construction periods than conventional reactors and can be located closer to major electricity consumers such as data centers and semiconductor plants, reducing transmission infrastructure needs.

Countries including the United States, Britain and Canada are already racing to develop SMR technology as part of efforts to lead the next-generation nuclear market.

The projects are also expected to help revive Korea’s nuclear industry, which contracted during the Moon administration’s phaseout policy. The addition of new reactors is particularly expected to generate substantial orders for companies such as Doosan Enerbility and hundreds of suppliers.

Nuclear power is increasingly seen as critical for securing stable baseload electricity as AI-driven power demand accelerates. According to preliminary projections set for the 12th electricity supply plan, electricity consumption could reach as much as 694.1 terawatt-hours by 2040, significantly exceeding earlier forecasts made in last year's report by the KHNP.

“Countries around the world are competing to expand nuclear power to provide the stable and affordable electricity needed for AI and other industries,” said Chung Bum-jin, a professor of nuclear engineering at Kyung Hee University. “Korea must continue building new reactors domestically to maintain its competitiveness in the global nuclear export market.”

The Korean Nuclear Society has proposed that the government include an additional two to four large-scale reactors and two SMRs in the 12th electricity supply plan.

BY AHN HYO-SEONG [[email protected]]