Four local governments have submitted bids to host two large nuclear reactors and one small modular reactor (SMR), the construction of which was confirmed after prolonged deliberations. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment plans to select the final candidate sites by the end of June after conducting on-site inspections and site evaluations.
According to industry sources, a total of four local governments applied for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's (KHNP) open call for new nuclear power plant candidate sites, which closed at 6 p.m. on the 30th. Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province and Ulju County in Ulsan are seeking to host two 1.4-gigawatt large reactors. Gijang County in Busan and Gyeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province are bidding for one 0.7-gigawatt SMR.
All applicants either already operate nuclear power plants or have previously applied in nuclear site selection processes. "Regions that already have nuclear plants find it easier to persuade residents, who have a high level of understanding," an industry official said. "Having large-scale power transmission facilities and an established nuclear ecosystem in place is also an advantage."
Yeongdeok County, which is seeking to host the large reactors, proposed a total site area of 3.24 million square meters spanning Seok-ri, Nomul-ri and Maejeong-ri in Yeongdeok-eup and Gyeongjeong-ri in Chuksan-myeon. The open call requires 1.041 million square meters, but the county appears to have factored in the possibility of additional reactor construction in the future. The county argues the site is competitive because it was previously selected as the final candidate site for the "Cheonji" nuclear plant before the project was scrapped under the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy.
Ulju County in Ulsan, the other contender, emphasizes that it already has secured land and power transmission and substation facilities at the Saeul Nuclear Power Plant site in Seosaeng-myeon. Its extensive experience operating nuclear plants is also cited as a strength.
For the SMR site, Gijang County in Busan and Gyeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province — which already operate the Gori and Wolseong nuclear plants, respectively — are competing. Both locations are understood to have opted for the SMR, which requires a relatively smaller site of 496,000 square meters, because they lack sufficient space to build additional large reactors.
KHNP plans to form an evaluation committee to ensure a fair and objective assessment in determining the final sites. The committee will evaluate candidate sites by June 25 across four categories: site adequacy, environmental impact, construction suitability and community acceptance. Results will be announced within one week after the evaluation is completed. If the projects proceed as outlined in the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, the large reactors are expected to be completed around 2037 and the SMR around 2035.
