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South Korea Strengthens Drone Control Around Nuclear Power Plants, Illegal Flights to Trigger Criminal Law

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) stated on September 14 that it will further strengthen its response to unauthorized drone flights within no-fly zones around nuclear power plants. It is understood that under the revised Aviation Safety Act, the penalty for unauthorized operation of ultralight flying devices (drones, etc.) within no-fly zones has been significantly raised from the previous "fine of up to 3 million won (administrative fine)" to "imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 10 million won." According to statistics from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission of South Korea, from 2021 to August of last year, a total of 699 illegal drone incidents were detected near nuclear power plants across South Korea, of which 284 cases could not identify the operators...

2026-09-14

Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation Signs MRA with IEEE of the United States to Enhance International Credibility of Nuclear Power Equipment Performance Verification

The Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation (Chairman Kim Sung-jin) formally signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in the field of nuclear power equipment performance verification with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Incorporated (IEEE) on the 14th in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. The core of this MRA lies in: both parties mutually recognizing that their respective performance verification certification systems possess equivalent levels of professional competence and quality management capability. Under the agreement, the Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation and IEEE will mutually confirm that each other's performance verification systems continuously maintain the same...

2026-09-14

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Meets with Asian Development Bank President, Plans to Expand Cooperation in Critical Minerals, AI, and Nuclear Power

Recently, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda, and the two sides reached multiple consensus points on deepening cooperation. This meeting was prompted by diplomatic interactions between South Korea and Central Asian leaders, and both sides proposed combining South Korea's technological strengths with the ADB's financial instruments to jointly expand cooperation space in the Asia-Pacific region. On the day of the meeting, President Lee Jae-myung received President Kanda at his office at 11 a.m. This visit coincided with Kanda's attendance at the South Korea-Uzbekistan summit and the first South Korea-Central Asia summit. Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Spokesperson of the Blue House, stated in a written briefing that this meeting served as an important exchange between South Korea and the ADB in the fields of energy and technology.

2026-09-14

South Korea Conducts First Joint Radiation Emergency Exercise Involving Two Nuclear Power Plants Simultaneously

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea announced on September 10 that South Korea held the 2026 National Joint Radiation Disaster Prevention Exercise, simulating a radioactive material release accident at the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the simultaneous entry into a radiation emergency state at the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province. Approximately 2,000 people participated in the exercise, including relevant South Korean central government departments, local governments, specialized agencies, relevant operating organizations, local organizations, and nearby residents. This exercise set up a compound disaster scenario of simultaneous radiation emergencies at multiple nuclear power plants for the first time. The exercise assumed that...

2026-09-12

South Korea's SMR Special Act Takes Effect, Aiming to Commercialize Light Water SMRs by 2035

On September 11, 2026, the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced that the Special Act on the Promotion of and Support for the Development of Small Modular Reactors, along with its enforcement decree, which aims to promote the research and development, demonstration, and commercialization of small modular reactors (SMRs), took effect on that day. Against the backdrop of growing electricity demand driven by the rapid spread of artificial intelligence and data centers, the South Korean government plans to increase support for the SMR sector through measures such as seven SEED projects. Under the Special Act and its enforcement decree, MSIT will formulate a basic plan for small modular reactor system development every five years, and prepare annual implementation...

2026-09-12

South Korea to Reconsider Accident Management Plans for Four Units at Gori and Hanbit

On September 11, 2026, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission of South Korea held its 14th meeting of 2026 to review the accident management plans and operating change license applications submitted by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) for Gori Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 and Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2. The meeting failed to reach a final conclusion and decided to refer the relevant agenda items to the next meeting for continued deliberation. The accident management plan mainly includes the scope of nuclear power plant accident management, management facilities, management strategies, and training programs. For nuclear power units with long operating lives, approval of this plan is generally regarded as an important prerequisite for subsequent discussions on continued operation licenses....

2026-09-12

Daejeon, South Korea Ranks Second Nationwide in Low- and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste Storage, Spent Fuel Transfer Plan Still Not Implemented

According to data released on September 12 by South Korea's Integrated Radioactive Waste Safety Management Information System, two nuclear-related facilities in Daejeon——the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Nuclear Fuel Company——currently store a total of 29,587 drums of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, with each drum having a capacity of 200 liters. This storage volume ranks second in South Korea, surpassed only by the Gori Nuclear Power Plant's 40,087 drums. Transportation of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste Daejeon provides The low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste stored by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute mainly comes from the operation of the Hanaro research reactor, as well as waste generated during the decommissioning of an experimental reactor in Seoul in the mid-2000s. Nuclear-related facilities in Daejeon...

2026-09-13

Hanbit Unit 2 in South Korea Shut Down as Operating License Expires, Four Nuclear Units Temporarily Off the Grid

On September 11, 2026, Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, stopped generating electricity as its 40-year operating license expired. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) said the same day that the generator of Hanbit Unit 2 was disconnected from the grid at 10 a.m., after which it entered a phase of routine inspection and planned preventive maintenance. Hanbit Unit 2 began commercial operation on September 12, 1986. Previously, Hanbit Unit 1 had been shut down in December 2025 for the same reason. With this, about 1.9 gigawatts of installed capacity from Hanbit Units 1 and 2 has temporarily withdrawn from the grid. In addition to Kori Units 3 and 4, which have already been shut down due to license expiration and are awaiting subsequent review decisions...

2026-09-11

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to Invest KRW 238.6 Billion in Dedicated Plant for Manufacturing Major SMR Equipment

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on September 10 that it will invest KRW 238.6 billion to build a dedicated plant for manufacturing major equipment for small modular reactors (SMRs). The plant will be built on the site of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan Shipyard, with the goal of commencing operations in 2029. SMRs are regarded as one of the next-generation nuclear power technologies. Compared with conventional nuclear power units, SMRs have lower output power, and their major equipment can be configured in a modular manner, combining features such as stable power supply and reduced carbon emissions. As AI data centers requiring round-the-clock, large-scale power supply increase rapidly, SMRs are attracting more attention. According to projections by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), by 2050, the global SMR market is expected to grow to 150G...

2026-09-10

Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant Construction Progress Reviewed Jointly by Korea and Egypt

On September 10, 2026, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) jointly reviewed the construction progress of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project and exchanged views on further strengthening project collaboration. Kim Wan-joong, South Korean Ambassador to Egypt, and relevant personnel from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power attended the meeting. During the meeting, Sherif Helmy, Chairman of Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority, was briefed on the implementation of the scope of work undertaken by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. The two sides focused on discussions regarding strengthening working-level communication between Korea and Egypt, and coordinating the work arrangements of participating construction units and relevant institutions...

2026-09-10

Japan's GX investment expands nuclear power supply chain demand, 17 Korean nuclear power-related material and equipment suppliers visit Tokyo for business talks

On September 10, 2026, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced that, together with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Korea Nuclear Industry Association, it had dispatched the 2026 Smart Energy Week Climate Technology Market Exploration Delegation to Tokyo, Japan. The delegation consisted of 17 Korean suppliers of materials, parts, and equipment in the new energy and nuclear power sectors. KOTRA stated that the move aims to align with Japan's energy transition and growing electricity demand, and to support Korean suppliers in entering the local Japanese supply chain. The Korean delegation, together with the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association (JEMA) and RX Japan, jointly held a Japanese power equipment industry...

2026-09-10

U.S. Nuclear Power Construction Included as Candidate in South Korea's U.S. Investment Consultations

On September 10, 2026, consultations between South Korea and the United States over a $350 billion U.S. investment plan entered a late stage. In addition to the Encinar gas combined-cycle power project in Texas being regarded as the first investment candidate, the U.S. side is said to have also proposed using a considerable portion of the $200 billion in strategic investment for nuclear power plant construction. According to related information, the U.S. nuclear power construction plan includes up to eight large nuclear reactors, and South Korea's APR1400 reactor design has also been included in discussions for some projects. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said regarding the nuclear power projects that relevant parties are in consultations, but specific details have not yet been determined. Texas's rapidly growing electricity demand is an important background for the South Korea-U.S. discussions on...

2026-09-10

KEPCO Nuclear Fuel and On-Site Partners Advance Full-Cycle Resource Circulation

On September 9, 2026, KEPCO Nuclear Fuel (KNF) announced that it has signed a business agreement on the practice of full-scope resource circulation with its on-site partner companies, jointly promoting waste reduction initiatives and the implementation of a resource circulation culture across relevant business processes. The agreement aims to support the Korean government's plan to promote the transition to a plastic-free circular economy, strengthen the management of the entire waste process from generation, sorting, to recycling, and establish a resource circulation system covering both employees and on-site partner companies. Under the agreement, all parties will focus on three areas: source reduction, recycling, and the conversion to reusable products, including reducing packaging materials and single-use items...

2026-09-09

Five Korean Local Governments Discuss Improvements to On-Site Storage Facilities at Nuclear Power Plants

On September 8, 2026, Gyeongju City announced that the 36th Administrative Meeting of Local Governments Hosting Nuclear Power Plants was held in Gyeongju that day. Heads of local governments from five regions hosting nuclear power plants—Gyeongju City, Gijang County in Busan, Ulju County in Ulsan, Yeonggwang County in South Jeolla Province, and Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province—attended the meeting. Photo of the administrative meeting of local governments hosting nuclear power plants held in Gyeongju on the 8th. Photo provided by Gyeongju City Government. The meeting discussed topics including current issues with on-site storage facilities within nuclear power plant premises, improvement of support systems for areas surrounding nuclear power plants, and joint response mechanisms among local governments. Participants noted that some issues faced by nuclear power plant host regions share common characteristics, requiring collaboration among local governments to ensure relevant opinions are reflected in government policies and systems.

2026-09-09

South Korea Reassesses New Nuclear Power Plant Construction Amid Rising AI Electricity Demand

On September 8, South Korea's Minister of Climate and Energy Environment, Kim Sung-hwan, stated in an interview that due to the expansion of the artificial intelligence industry, South Korea's future electricity demand is expected to increase by 25 to 30 gigawatts. The government is reassessing the possibility of constructing new nuclear power plants and plans to announce the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand next month. Kim Sung-hwan said the aforementioned additional demand mainly stems from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix expanding semiconductor production, as well as the construction of new AI data centers. As internal combustion engine vehicles transition to electric vehicles and the scope of electric heating replacing gas heating expands, South Korea's overall electricity demand will continue to grow. The South Korean government...

2026-09-09