Editorials
Why hesitate on nuclear power for Honam chips?
The government says existing nuclear and renewable power can support the proposed Honam semiconductor cluster, but chipmakers warn stable electricity will require more reactors.
An aerial view of the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla. The Hanbit complex is the only nuclear power generation site in the Honam region and is expected to play a key role in meeting growing electricity demand from planned advanced industries, including semiconductor manufacturing.
NEWS1
Climate and Energy Minister Kim Sung-hwan has taken a cautious stance on expanding nuclear power capacity despite industry calls for additional reactors to support the proposed Honam semiconductor cluster. Speaking on a radio program Thursday, Kim said the cluster would require about 6.3 gigawatts of electricity and argued that the demand could be met by supplementing existing power sources. In other words, under the current plan, the southwest region's Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant and renewable energy resources would be sufficient. He added that if the Honam cluster eventually grows to the scale of the Yongin semiconductor cluster, expanding nuclear power could be considered, provided local communities accept the project.
The minister's assessment differs considerably from that of the semiconductor industry. Chipmakers argue that the issue is not simply generating enough electricity but ensuring a stable and uninterrupted supply. In a public briefing on June 30, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun made the same point, saying reliable electricity is essential and calling for additional nuclear power generation as well as liquefied natural gas combined heat and power plants.
The government emphasizes the southwest region's abundant renewable energy resources. Yet renewable generation varies with weather conditions and the time of day. For semiconductor manufacturing, where production lines must operate continuously around the clock, such variability remains a major concern. Industry leaders therefore argue that additional nuclear generation, which provides dependable baseload power, is necessary to complement renewable energy.
The challenge extends well beyond the Honam cluster. AI data centers planned across the country are expected to require 18.4 gigawatts of electricity, while the Yongin semiconductor cluster has yet to secure 3 gigawatts of the power it needs. Combined, those projects would require generating capacity equivalent to roughly 20 nuclear reactors.
The government has promoted its semiconductor megacluster initiative as a project critical to the nation's future. It is therefore difficult to understand why companies are being urged to commit to massive, high-risk investments while the government remains vague about developing the infrastructure for which it is responsible. If policymakers want to demonstrate their commitment, they should adopt a more forward-looking energy policy while also removing regulatory obstacles, including the 52-hour workweek rule, that the industry argues undermine competitiveness.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
