New reactor will reduce South Korea's use of fossil fuels, providing affordable, secure, low-carbon electricity

For immediate release, 10 June 2022

South Korea’s environmental and energy security goals have been bolstered by the grid connection of Shin Hanul 1, a 1400 MWe nuclear reactor, which started to supply electricity to the South Korean grid on June 9.

Sama Bilbao y León, World Nuclear Association Director General welcomed the news, remarking;

“Shin Hanul 1 will make a significant contribution to reducing South Korea's use of fossil fuels, providing affordable, secure, low-carbon electricity. I want to offer my congratulations to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the Korean Nuclear Safety and Security Committee (NSSC) and all of those who have contributed to bring this reactor into service.”

The start-up of the reactor comes soon after the election of South Korea's new President, Yoon Suk-yeol, who plans to reverse former President Moon Jae-in's nuclear power phase out policy. As part of these plans, restart of construction on two further APR-1400s at Shin Hanul is being explored.

Sama Bilbao y León remarked;

“In the face of astronomically high fossil fuel prices, and the urgent need to tackle climate change, governments worldwide need to rapidly accelerate the deployment of new nuclear capacity. While South Korea's brief flirtation with nuclear phase-out certainly delayed progress, the commitment of the new administration to support its nuclear energy industry, both in South Korea and in the growing export markets, is very welcome”