While U.S. and Europe Run for 56 Years, Gori Unit 2’s Continued Operation Delayed Again [Digging Energy]

Accident Management Plan Approved by Vote
Even with Immediate Approval, Only 7 Years of Operation Left
Similar Reactors in the U.S. Granted Up to 80 Years of Operation

The restart of the Gori Unit 2 nuclear power plant, which has been offline for about two and a half years since April 2023, continues to be delayed. The Nuclear Safety Committee reviewed the agenda for the continued operation of Gori Unit 2 on the 23rd, but was unable to reach a conclusion and decided to discuss it again at the next meeting scheduled for November 13.

The longer the continued operation is delayed, the shorter the actual period the plant can be operated, which reduces the amount of electricity that can be produced. In the case of Gori Unit 2, this means a loss of approximately 1 billion won worth of electricity per day. This has a negative impact on the economic viability of the nuclear power plant.

Overseas, reactors with a similar design to Gori Unit 2 have been operating for 56 years. Recently, the United States authorized the operation of nuclear power plants with similar designs to Gori Unit 2 for up to 80 years.

Effectively a 'One-Person Opposition'... The Outcome of the Next Meeting Remains Uncertain

On this day, the Nuclear Safety Committee received a report on the review results from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) regarding the continued operation of Gori Unit 2 and deliberated on the matter. However, the committee decided to resubmit the agenda for future discussion, stating that additional reference materials related to the radiological environmental impact assessment were needed.

This was the second time the agenda for the approval of Gori Unit 2 had been submitted since September 25. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power applied for a 10-year continued operation of Gori Unit 2 on April 4, 2022. KINS conducted a safety review and a total of seven preliminary reviews by the Nuclear Safety Expert Committee. Gori Unit 2, which had completed its 40-year design life, has been offline since April 8, 2023.

Prior to deliberating on the continued operation, the Nuclear Safety Committee voted to approve the accident management plan for Gori Unit 2. This agenda was also submitted for the second time since September 25. Although the accident management plan and the continued operation agenda are legally separate, they are interrelated in terms of safety assessment, so they were reviewed together on this day.

The meeting was delayed from the outset due to a series of questions from Jin Jaeyong, a committee member recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea and a lawyer at Kangnam Law Firm, regarding the details of the accident management plan. Chairman Choi Wonho even requested, "For the sake of efficient proceedings, please refrain from questions that are not directly related to the deliberation."

The 223rd Nuclear Safety Committee meeting is being held on the 23rd. October 23, 2025. Nuclear Safety Committee

Jin argued that even after the expert committee's review, an external committee should be formed to re-verify the agenda, but this suggestion was not accepted by the other members. Ultimately, the accident management plan passed by a vote of 6 in favor out of 7 members.

Due to the time spent discussing the accident management plan, there was not enough in-depth discussion on the continued operation agenda. Regarding the continued operation agenda, Jin also argued, "Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power submitted the Periodic Safety Review (PSR) for continued operation after the legal deadline, so it is invalid."

The delay in meeting the legal deadline was largely due to the postponement of the decision on continued operation of Gori Unit 2 under the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy. The Nuclear Safety Committee Secretariat explained, "Even though the legal deadline has passed, legal advice from the Korea Legal Aid Corporation confirmed that this is not grounds for disqualification."

Jin also raised issues regarding the legal interpretation of the environmental impact assessment. According to Article 20 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Nuclear Safety Act, a 'radiological environmental impact assessment reflecting changes since the initial operating license' must be conducted for continued operation. Jin requested a comparison between the conditions at the time of the initial operating license and the current state.

However, the Secretariat explained that when Gori Unit 2 received its operating license in 1983, there was no obligation to submit an environmental impact assessment. As the debate continued, Chairman Choi Wonho concluded the meeting by stating, "The Secretariat should gather as much historical data as possible and report back to the committee."

It remains uncertain whether the agenda for the continued operation of Gori Unit 2 will be approved at the next meeting.

With the passage of the previously contentious accident management plan, the likelihood of approval for continued operation has increased. However, with the term of Park Chunhong, a committee member recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea, ending on the 24th, the number of committee members will drop to six (out of a total of nine), which remains a variable. Anti-nuclear groups continue to strongly oppose the continued operation. Legally, there is no issue with holding a vote at the next meeting, as a majority of committee members must be present and a majority must vote in favor for approval.

"A Loss of 1 Billion Won Per Day"... Overseas, Lifespans Extended Up to 80 Years

If the approval for continued operation of Gori Unit 2 is delayed, the actual operating period will become even shorter. The 10-year period for continued operation starts after the expiration of the design life, so even if approval is granted immediately, the actual operating period would be only seven years. This further reduces the amount of electricity that can be produced, negatively impacting the economic viability of the nuclear power plant.

Chung Bumjin, a professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Kyung Hee University, said, "If the 685-megawatt (MWe) Gori Unit 2 is shut down, it results in a daily loss of 1 billion won worth of electricity." This amounts to a monthly loss of 30 billion won in electricity production.

View of Gori Unit 2 (second from the right) from Wolnae, Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan. September 25, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News

Overseas, there are already 11 reactors with the same or similar design as Gori Unit 2 (Westinghouse 2-Loop type) that have surpassed their 40-year design life and are still generating electricity.

In the United States, the Ginna nuclear power plant, which began operation in 1969, is still running. The Point Beach Units 1 and 2, as well as the Prairie Island Units 1 and 2, have also been operating for over 50 years. Switzerland's Beznau-1 plant also began operation in 1969.

Other similar plants include the Krsko plant in Slovenia, the Doel Units 1 and 2 in Belgium, and the Angra Unit 1 in Brazil. Although Belgium had declared a nuclear phase-out by 2025, the importance of energy security highlighted by the Russia-Ukraine war led to an extension of the Doel plant's operating life.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) extended the operating licenses of Point Beach Units 1 and 2, operated by NextEra Energy, to 80 years on September 30.

Prairie Island Units 1 and 2, operated by Xcel Energy in the United States, also received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission earlier this month to continue operating for up to 80 years. Xcel Energy plans to apply for continued operation approval from the NRC early next year.