Decontamination → Equipment Dismantling → Waste Processing → Site Restoration
Targeting Completion of Decommissioning by 2037
Kori Unit 1 (595MWe), the first commercial nuclear power plant in South Korea, officially begins its decommissioning process on June 26 after receiving final approval of its decommissioning plan from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. It has been eight years since the plant was permanently shut down in 2017 after starting operations in 1978, and ten years since the decommissioning plan was initiated.
The decommissioning will proceed in three phases over a period of 12 years. First, after preparatory steps such as decontamination, dismantling will begin with major non-radioactive equipment inside the turbine building. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) plans to begin dismantling equipment next month and aims to remove all spent nuclear fuel from the reactor by 2031. After that, the full dismantling of radioactive system equipment and removal of structures will begin in earnest.
Radioactive waste generated during decommissioning will be sorted and processed by type, then transported to storage facilities in accordance with safety standards. Finally, once it is confirmed that residual radiation levels are below the regulatory limit (annual exposure dose of 0.1 mSv or less), site restoration will commence. The site may later be converted for industrial or other uses. Throughout this process, KHNP has stated that radiation safety management, environmental protection, and communication with the local community will be upheld as core priorities.
The entire decommissioning process will be conducted under real-time supervision and regular inspections by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS). Upon completion, KHNP will submit a 'decommissioning completion report,' and the commission will approve the end of decommissioning along with the cancellation of the operating license. The final completion target is set for 2037.
The government and industry intend to use the decommissioning of Kori Unit 1 as a springboard to advance domestic decommissioning technology, foster skilled personnel, build an industrial ecosystem, and ultimately enter the overseas nuclear decommissioning market. As the first nuclear power plant to be decommissioned in South Korea, it serves as both a symbolic and experimental test bed.
KHNP President Hwang Jooho stated, "The decommissioning of Kori Unit 1 is not merely the removal of facilities, but a turning point for internalizing domestic decommissioning technology, nurturing specialized personnel, and building an industrial ecosystem." He added, "We will ensure transparency throughout the project and pursue decommissioning based on trust with the local community."
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