Nuclear Power in South Korea

Nuclear Power In South Korea

The total electrical generation capacity of the nuclear power plants of South Korea is 20.5 GWe from 23 reactors. This is 29.5% of South Korea's total electrical generation capacity, but 45% of total electrical consumption and 8.6% of total energy consumption. The South Korean nuclear power sector maintains capacity factors of over 95%.

Plans for nuclear generation are for continued expansion, to increase nuclear's share of generation to 60% by 2035. Eleven more reactors are scheduled to come on stream in the period 2012 to 2021, adding 13.8 GWe in total.

Nuclear power research in South Korea is very active with projects involving a variety of advanced reactors, including a small modular reactor, a liquid-metal fast/transmutation reactor, and a high-temperature hydrogen generation design. Fuel production and waste handling technologies have also been developed locally. South Korea is also a member of the ITER nuclear fusion research project.

South Korea is seeking to export its nuclear technology, with a goal of exporting 80 nuclear reactors by 2030. As of 2010, South Korean companies have reached agreements to build a research reactor in Jordan, and four APR-1400 reactors in the United Arab Emirates. They are also pursuing opportunities in Turkey and Indonesia, as well as in India and the People's Republic of China. In December 2010, Malaysia expressed interest in procuring South Korea's nuclear reactor technology.

In October 2011, South Korea hosted of a series of events to raise public awareness about nuclear power. The events were coordinated by the Korea Nuclear Energy Promotion Agency (KONEPA) and included the participation of the French Atomic Forum (FAF); the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); as well as public relations and information experts from countries that utilize or plan to utilize nuclear power. The East Coast Solidarity for Anti-Nuke Group was formed in January 2012. The group is against nuclear power and against plans for new nuclear power plants in Samcheok and Yeongdeok, and for the closure of existing nuclear reactors in Wolseong and Gori.