South Korea - World Nuclear Performance Report

There are 26 reactors operating in South Korea, providing more than a quarter of the country's electricity. Two APR-1400 units are under construction, with further units planned. 

In March 2022 a new President, Yoon Suk-yeol, was elected on a platform that rejected his predecessor’s nuclear phase-out policy. 

In June 2023 the government approved the project implementation plan for Shin Hanul 3&4, allowing Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to restart preliminary construction. In December 2023 a consortium led by Hyundai Engineering & Construction was selected as the contractor for the construction of the main facilities of the two units. First nuclear concrete is expected later in 2024.

In July 2023 it was announced that the country’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is to review the need for new nuclear power. The committee noted the "recent mid- to long-term changes in power supply and demand conditions" with the need for growing capacity fuelled by the increase in electric vehicles, expansion of data centres and investment in semi-conductor and battery manufacture. In July 2023 a public-private partnership comprising 42 entities was created to advance Korea’s small modular reactor (SMR) sector, including 11 government and public institutions. In June 2024 President Yoon Suk-yeol announced plans to create an SMR hub in the city of Gyeongju in the southeastern corner of the country's North Gyeongsang province.

Nuclear electricity production by age of reactor