The sites for two new large-scale nuclear reactors and one small modular reactor (SMR) to meet artificial intelligence (AI) power demand have been confirmed as Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province and Gijang County in Busan, respectively. The site evaluation committee for new nuclear plant construction held a meeting Tuesday, explaining the location selection: "We considered the role of baseload power supply to sustain the industrial ecosystem and regional coexistence." It marks the first decision on a new nuclear plant construction site in Korea in 24 years, since the Shin-Hanul plant in 2002. The SMR is targeted for completion in 2035, while the two large reactors aim for completion between 2037 and 2038.
The plan for new nuclear plant construction was established early last year under the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand (2024-2038). A site selection announcement was originally scheduled for July last year, but the process was temporarily suspended during the transfer of power, raising concerns that the country might revert to the nuclear phase-out stance of the Moon Jae-in administration. However, as power demand exploded due to factors such as the operation of AI data centers, public opinion gained momentum that new nuclear plant construction could no longer be delayed. In a poll conducted by Gallup Korea on behalf of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment in January this year, 89.5% of citizens answered that "nuclear power is necessary," and 69.6% said new nuclear plants should be pursued.
In that respect, this confirmation of new nuclear plant sites feels rather belated. Since the nuclear phase-out policy delayed new nuclear plant construction by nearly 10 years, how to resolve the remaining tasks ahead is more important. A nuclear plant is a long-term project that takes at least 10 years from site selection to completion, passing through environmental impact assessments, design, and licensing. The government must expedite administrative procedures as much as possible, including shortening licensing periods and eliminating redundant environmental regulations.
Given the rapid pace of development in the AI industry, additional nuclear plant construction must accelerate further. According to the power demand outlook for establishing the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity (2026-2040), Korea's electricity consumption in 2040 is projected to reach a maximum of 694.1 terawatt-hours (TWh), a 26% surge from last year. The three additional reactors confirmed this time are far from sufficient. It is not possible to supply baseload power to AI data centers running 24 hours a day with renewable energy that has high intermittency. This is why France, which once advocated nuclear phase-out, is pursuing the construction of up to 14 new nuclear plants, and the United States and Japan are competing to expand nuclear power. We must not forget that the only realistic alternative capable of supplying large-scale power cheaply, stably, and without carbon emissions is nuclear power.
