Gori Unit 2 to Restart Operations... Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Approves Continued Operation

KHNP: "Committed to Contributing to the National Economy and Achieving Carbon Neutrality"

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) received approval for the continued operation of Gori Unit 2 at the 224th plenary session of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission on November 13.

Gori Unit 2, which began commercial operation on August 10, 1983, is the second nuclear power plant in South Korea. Its operating license expired on April 8, 2023, at which point it was shut down.

To continue operating Gori Unit 2, KHNP submitted a safety assessment report for continued operation in April 2022, and applied for an operating license amendment for continued operation, including the results of public opinion gathering on the radiological environmental impact assessment. Over the past three years and seven months, the plant underwent rigorous review by regulatory authorities. The latest approval by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission confirms that Gori Unit 2 has secured sufficient safety for continued operation.

KHNP is currently submitting safety assessment reports for continued operation to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission for ten nuclear reactors whose operating licenses will expire before 2030 (Gori Units 2, 3, and 4; Hanbit Units 1 and 2; Hanul Units 1 and 2; and Wolsong Units 2, 3, and 4), and these reactors are under review.

The approval for the continued operation of Gori Unit 2, the first among the ten reactors, holds significant meaning not only for KHNP but also for the nation’s energy and industrial policies.

Jeon Daewook, Acting President of KHNP, stated, “Continued operation will serve as a stable energy source to meet the growing future electricity demand from AI and data centers, contributing to the national economy and playing a key role in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We will do our utmost to prioritize safety and ensure the timely restart of Gori Unit 2.”

With this approval, Gori Unit 2 will be allowed to operate until April 8, 2033. KHNP aims to complete ongoing facility upgrades and confirm safety through regular inspections by regulatory authorities, with the goal of restarting the reactor in February 2026. In addition, KHNP plans to further strengthen the safety and performance of the plant not only through continuous facility improvements during the extended operation period but also by thoroughly implementing all safety measures.