South Korea's Nuclear Power Expansion
South Korea is expanding its nuclear power capabilities, generating more electricity from nuclear than fossil fuels for the first time in 2024 and planning to add four new reactors by 2038. The government aims for nuclear to comprise 36% of the energy mix by 2038, reversing previous anti-nuclear policies.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 8 |
Novelty | 7 |
Positivity | 6 |
Reliability | 7 |
Actionability | 2 |
Society | 7 |
Journalism | 4 |
Highlights
- South Korea generated more electricity from nuclear reactors than from coal and natural gas for the first time during the opening half of 2024.
- The country plans to add four more nuclear plants to its power fleet by 2038.
- The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission approved the construction of two new reactors, Shin Hanul No. 3 and 4, each with a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts.
- South Korea aims for nuclear power to account for 36% of its energy generation by 2038, up from 30% currently.
- Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power won a $17 billion project to export its nuclear technology to the Czech Republic.
Perspectives
- There is a strong push from the current administration to revive nuclear energy as a key component of South Korea's energy strategy, emphasizing its role in reducing emissions and meeting rising power demands. [2][3][4]
- Despite the push for nuclear energy, there are lingering concerns about safety and the previous administration's decision to phase out nuclear power due to these issues, which may affect public perception and acceptance. [1][3]