[Exclusive] Resumption of Cheonji and Daejin Nuclear Power Plant Construction Virtually Canceled

Transition Team Halts Discussions on Cheonji and Daejin Nuclear Plants... Decides Not to Resume Construction
Sites Designated in 2012 in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk... Moon Administration Scrapped Construction
Ministry of Industry Aligns with Transition Team... No Mention in Work Report

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol visited the site of the halted construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 in Uljin County, Gyeongbuk, last December and announced his nuclear power plant pledge.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] It has been confirmed that the plan to resume construction of the Cheonji and Daejin nuclear power plants, which was considered as part of the policy to abolish the nuclear phase-out, has been virtually abandoned by the Presidential Transition Committee. Since the designated site areas for the nuclear power plants have already been revoked, making it difficult to resume construction, the committee judged that forcibly pushing the project could face backlash starting from the site selection process due to public opposition. Accordingly, the next administration's energy policy, which the Transition Committee is expected to announce soon, will likely focus on the continued operation of existing nuclear power plants and the resumption of construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4.

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy on the 18th, the Transition Committee recently halted discussions on resuming construction of Cheonji Units 1 and 2 and Daejin Units 1 and 2. At the beginning of its formation, the committee considered resuming construction of Cheonji and Daejin as part of the new government's nuclear policy. However, after internal review, the committee concluded that it is realistically difficult. A Transition Committee official stated, "Currently, Cheonji and Daejin nuclear power plants are not part of the next government's nuclear policy considerations," adding, "Whether to pursue (resumption of construction) under public consensus in the future is a matter to be reviewed."

Cheonji and Daejin are projects to build two 1500 MW-class nuclear reactors each. Previously, Yeongdeok County in Gyeongbuk Province and Samcheok City in Gangwon Province were designated as the planned sites for Cheonji and Daejin in 2012. The Park Geun-hye administration purchased the Cheonji site in 2016 and proceeded with the permitting process for Daejin construction. However, the current administration, as it intensified its nuclear phase-out policy, scrapped all construction plans for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 as well as Cheonji and Daejin in 2017. Subsequently, from 2019 until last year, the designation of the planned site areas for Daejin and Cheonji was revoked.

This is why the Transition Committee concluded that resuming construction of Cheonji and Daejin is not easy. Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, whose construction resumption was emphasized by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, had their construction halted mid-project, so there is no need to go through the site selection process. On the other hand, since the site designations for Cheonji and Daejin were revoked, resuming construction would require going through the site selection process again. This means that due to local opposition, the site selection might not even be completed during the new government's term. There is also a risk of backlash if the resumption of Cheonji and Daejin construction, which is not part of Yoon's campaign pledges, is pushed recklessly.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the relevant government department, shares the same stance as the Transition Committee. In a recent briefing to the Transition Committee, the ministry did not even mention plans to resume construction of Cheonji and Daejin nuclear power plants. A ministry official explained, "Cheonji and Daejin are completely different situations from Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4," adding, "Nuclear power plants have low local acceptance, so difficulties will arise starting from the new site selection process."