Majority Support New Nuclear Power Plants in Public Opinion Survey
Two New Nuclear Plants Likely to Proceed as Planned Under 11th Basic Electricity Plan
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Expected to Resume Site Selection Process
i-SMR Promotion T
As concerns about mid- to long-term power shortages grow due to the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and the expansion of the semiconductor industry, a recent government-led public opinion poll revealed that an overwhelming majority supports the construction of additional new nuclear power plants. In response, the government is increasingly likely to set its policy direction toward building two new nuclear power plants and one small modular reactor (SMR) in accordance with the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand.
On January 21, an official from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment stated, "Based on the two previous energy mix policy forums and the latest public opinion survey, we plan to announce the policy direction for new nuclear power plant construction soon." The government intends to establish the new nuclear power plant construction policy as a priority, separate from the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand. This is because the site selection process takes considerable time, making further delay difficult.
Prior to the public survey, the ministry held two policy forums on the "desirable energy mix"-the first on December 30 of last year and the second on January 7 of this year. At the first forum, Ok Kiyeol, Head of the Energy System Division at Korea Power Exchange, emphasized, "To drastically reduce greenhouse gases, we must make renewable energy our main power source while also utilizing nuclear power, which is a zero-carbon energy source. We also need to secure flexible resources to respond to the intermittency and variability of renewables."
The second forum focused on discussing flexible operation technologies for nuclear power plants as a way to overcome the intermittency and variability of renewable energy.
Subsequently, starting January 12, the government commissioned two institutions to conduct a week-long public opinion survey of 3,000 people. As the vast majority of respondents expressed support for new nuclear power plant construction, the ministry is expected to formalize its plans for new nuclear power plants soon.
In February of last year, the government finalized the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand after reporting to the National Assembly, deciding to add two new nuclear power plants and one SMR by 2038. However, since Minister Kim Seonghwan took office, he has repeatedly stressed the need for public debate on additional nuclear power plant construction, raising concerns about a possible "nuclear phase-out season 2." Minister Kim is a well-known opponent of nuclear power, having served as mayor of Nowon District and as a member of the National Assembly.
President Lee Jaemyung also heightened these concerns during a press conference in September of last year, saying, "It takes more than 15 years to build a nuclear power plant, and except for sites where construction was halted, there are no suitable locations. We must massively expand solar and wind power, which can be built in just one or two years."
Recently, however, a shift in sentiment has been detected. At the second energy mix forum, Minister Kim stated, "Ideally, I would like to supply all electricity with renewables, but given the reality of having to provide a stable power supply, that's not easy." He added, "Korea has many important industries, such as semiconductors, so we must operate the power grid stably."
This has been interpreted as an acknowledgment of the need for nuclear power to supplement the intermittency of renewables and ensure a stable electricity supply, especially as AI is causing a sharp increase in power demand.
Kim Yongbeom, Chief Presidential Policy Secretary, also said in a recent interview, "To supply the electricity needed for the AI and semiconductor industries, building new nuclear power plants is unavoidable." The overwhelming support for additional nuclear power plants in the latest survey is seen as evidence that the public shares this understanding of the current situation.
If the government finalizes plans for additional nuclear power plants, it is expected that the site selection process, which had been halted, will also accelerate. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power began the site selection process for new nuclear power plants in March of last year, immediately after the 11th Basic Plan was finalized.
Originally, the plan was to invite applications from local governments wishing to host nuclear power plants through a public call in the second half of last year. However, the process stalled as policy uncertainty increased under the new administration. According to the nuclear industry, residents in Gyeongju, Yeongdeok, and Uljin in North Gyeongsang Province, as well as Ulju in Ulsan, are reportedly positive about hosting nuclear power plants.
Meanwhile, the Innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR) Technology Development Project Team also plans to apply for standard design certification at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute soon. The target for approval is 2028. If the licensing process proceeds as scheduled, module manufacturing and construction could begin in 2030, with commercialization possible within five years.
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