South Korea recently announced preferred locations for two new large nuclear reactors, as well as its first small modular reactor (SMR) and is now talking up the possibility of even further new reactors as the government of President Lee Jae Myung seeks power capacity to backstop a booming semiconductor and artificial intelligence industry. The discussion of further new reactors is something of a U-turn for the Lee administration, which, when it took power in June 2025, was reluctant to support new large nuclear. But the AI boom, alongside strong public support for nuclear and the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, appear to have pushed the government to more fully embrace nuclear.
South Korea Signals Interest in Further New Nuclear
South Korea selected preferred sites for three planned reactors and is talking up more new nuclear as its AI and semiconductor industries boom.
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