The selection of sites in Busan and Yeongdeok marks the revival of Korea’s nuclear power sector after President Moon Jae-in in 2018 declared a nuclear phase-out policy
The Shin Kori-1 and 2 reactors in Gijang, Busan. (courtesy KHNP)
The selection of nuclear reactor sites in Busan and North Gyeongsang Province marks the first major step in the Lee Jae Myung administration's agenda to expand nuclear power in the country.The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) revealed Wednesday that it had selected North Gyeongsang Province’s Yeongdeok County as the site for two large-scale nuclear reactors with a maximum output of 1.4 gigawatts each, and Busan’s Gijang County as the site for a small modular reactor (SMR) with an output of 0.7 gigawatts. In the bidding process for the reactor sites, which closed at the end of March, Yeongdeok County and Ulju County in Ulsan submitted proposals, while Gijang and Gyeongju applied to host an SMR. KHNP’s site evaluation committee explained that, following a review of site suitability, environmental impact, construction feasibility, and acceptance from the community — which each accounted for 25 points — Yeongdeok scored 91.01 points and Gijang scored 87.11, making them the final candidates for the respective reactor types. Ulju and Gyeongju, which were not selected, received 82.63 points and 84.56, respectively. “Yeongdeok received high marks in the resident response survey as well as the areas concerning site suitability and environmental impact. Gijang also earned relatively high scores in the resident response survey and site suitability,” the committee noted. Yeongdeok’s selection puts it on track to revive its nuclear power plant project after a hiatus of nearly a decade. The county had been selected in 2011 to host two 1.5-gigawatt nuclear reactors, but the project was suspended in 2018 in accordance with the Moon Jae-in administration’s policy of phasing out nuclear power generation. The conventional nuclear reactors that will be constructed in the regions selected will be South Korea’s 33rd and 34th reactors. There are currently 26 nuclear reactors in operation in South Korea, excluding two that have been permanently shut down. Four reactors are under construction, including the units Shin Hanul 3 and 4 in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province.
