South Korean civic groups oppose construction of spent fuel storage facility at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant site

On September 4, the Joint Action Organization Against Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in the Honam region of South Korea held a press conference in front of the high-level radioactive waste forum venue in Gochang County, North Jeolla Province, demanding the cancellation of plans to build a storage facility at the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant site and proposing fundamental measures to address nuclear waste issues. The organization stated that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is pushing forward with the construction of temporary storage facilities at the plant site on the grounds that the spent fuel pools at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant may reach saturation by 2030. The organization argued that this move fails to adequately respond to the opinions of residents near the plant and amounts to unilaterally shifting the burden of nuclear waste onto the local community. The organization stated that the current plan involves building storage facilities at the existing nuclear power plant site...

2026-09-06

South Korean President to Visit France for Nuclear Energy Cooperation Talks

At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will pay a state visit to France from September 6 to 9. The South Korean side stated that during the visit, the two sides will hold discussions on cooperation in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, nuclear energy, and biotechnology, with nuclear energy cooperation listed as one of the key agenda items. South Korean National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac said at a press conference on the 4th that this visit will serve as an opportunity to consolidate the Korea-France global strategic partnership. The South Korean side hopes to expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as nuclear energy through joint research and development, corporate collaboration, and market access...

2026-09-05

Seoul National University of Science and Technology and Doosan Enerbility Deepen Nuclear Design Cooperation

Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech) and Doosan Enerbility recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to conduct industry-academia cooperation in next-generation nuclear power plants, small modular reactors (SMRs), and core nuclear equipment technologies, aiming to enhance competitiveness in nuclear design technology and jointly cultivate specialized research talent. The signing ceremony was held on September 2 at SeoulTech. Attendees included Seo Young-bin, Senior Vice President of Nuclear Design at Doosan Enerbility, Kim Jong-in, Department Head, along with relevant university officials. Under the MOU, the two parties will integrate the university's research capabilities with the company's expertise in nuclear power...

2026-09-04

South Korea Exports Molten Salt Reactor R&D Technology to Denmark

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) announced on September 4 that it has signed a two-year contract worth USD 2.26 million (approximately KRW 3 billion) with Danish nuclear energy company Saltforce to provide molten salt reactor-related R&D services, covering areas such as nuclear fuel manufacturing, molten salt testing, and material corrosion assessment. Molten salt reactors are a class of next-generation reactors that typically use high-temperature molten salt as a fuel carrier or coolant medium. Based on the molten salt chemical system, this type of technology is mainly divided into fluoride-based and chloride-based systems. Under the contract arrangement, KAERI will provide support for the fluoride-based...

2026-09-04

Non-compliant Welding Procedures at Two Units of South Korea's Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant

The Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant headquarters of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) recently confirmed that Units 1 and 2 of the plant had used welding procedure specifications (WPS) that had not undergone impact testing during maintenance of the component cooling water heat exchangers. A retrospective inspection found that among 14 repair activities conducted since the relevant heat exchangers were replaced in 2007, 6 cases involved similar non-compliance. The issue was identified during the 28th planned preventive maintenance outage of Hanbit Unit 1. Inspections revealed that some welding procedure specifications used for repairs to the water chambers of the component cooling water heat exchangers did not meet requirements, involving repair work on worn areas inside the heat exchanger water chambers in the cooling systems of Units 1 and 2. Hanbit Nuclear...

2026-09-04

Gyeongsangbuk-do lawmakers demand stronger nuclear power plant accident notification and oversight

On September 3, Gyeongsangbuk-do lawmaker Kim Jae-jun spoke at the 365th provisional session of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Council, criticizing the delayed notification and inadequate response to the recent boric acid solution leak at Unit 6 of the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, and calling for stronger resident safety protection mechanisms in areas with concentrated nuclear power plants. Kim stated that on August 3, a boric acid solution containing radioactive materials leaked from Unit 6 of the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant during spent fuel transfer, but local residents were not informed of the incident until approximately three weeks after it occurred. He argued that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) failed to disclose information about the incident promptly and transparently, undermining residents' trust in nuclear safety management...

2026-09-04

Radiation Emergency Drill Conducted at Unit 6 of South Korea's Hanul Nuclear Power Plant

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) recently conducted a comprehensive radiation disaster prevention drill at Unit 6 of its Hanul Nuclear Power Plant to test the emergency response system and on-site handling capabilities under radiation emergency conditions. According to the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, the drill was held on September 3, organized in accordance with the evaluation guidelines established by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) and based on the National Radiation Emergency Plan. The drill scenario was not disclosed in advance, and the evaluation methods were also adjusted, with a focus on verifying the unit's response capabilities under actual emergency scenarios. During the drill, all emergency personnel of Unit 6 at Hanul Nuclear Power Plant participated in the response. The scenario simulated a casualty incident occurring within the controlled area, with medical rescue operations organized, and a 3.2 MW mobile generator was used to inspect the operational capability of emergency facilities.

2026-09-04

Cause Identified for Automatic Shutdown of Unit 3 at Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant in South Korea

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea reported on the 4th that it has completed its investigation into the automatic shutdown of Unit 3 at the Shin-Kori nuclear power plant during commissioning tests on the 11th of last month, and has approved the resumption of commissioning tests for the unit. The investigation confirmed that the direct cause of the incident was an operator error in inputting parameters during the process of restoring reactor power after the tests. According to the investigation findings, at the time of the incident, while setting the parameters for the turbine control valve position limiter, the operator mistakenly entered a value intended to limit the upper opening limit of the valve as a value in the valve closing direction. This limiter is used to prevent a rapid increase in the amount of steam entering the turbine for power generation within a short period. After the parameter error, the unit experienced an interruption in power output at approximately 80% power level, followed by an automatic shutdown.

2026-09-04

Changwon National University and Doosan Enerbility Conduct On-Site Training on Nuclear Power Main Equipment Design

The AI-based Next-Generation Nuclear Power Equipment and Components Manufacturing Innovation Research Center (AI-NMIC) at Changwon National University, together with the Regional Innovation Alliance Center for Medium-Sized Enterprises, recently completed on-site training on nuclear power main equipment design. The training was held for students participating in related projects at Doosan Enerbility's site. According to Changwon National University on August 31, the training lasted five days, totaling 30 hours, and was designed to help students acquire professional knowledge related to the design and manufacturing of key nuclear power equipment, as well as to understand the design, manufacturing processes, and practical application scenarios of nuclear power equipment through on-site corporate instruction. The tra...

2026-09-02

South Korea Plans to Increase R&D Investment in Nuclear Fusion and Small Modular Reactors

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) stated on September 1 that in the 2027 government budget proposal approved at a Cabinet meeting, the ministry's budget amounts to 29.6476 trillion Korean won, an increase of 24.5% compared to this year's supplementary budget. Of this, the R&D budget is planned to increase from 11.9 trillion won this year to 14.1 trillion won, accounting for 36% of the South Korean government's total R&D budget. In the science and technology sector, MSIT plans to invest 12.377 trillion won in R&D related to next-generation artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. In explaining the budget proposal, the ministry's First Vice Minister stated that in response to the growing electricity demand driven by AI development, South Korea will accelerate the development of future clean energy sources such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion...

2026-09-02

South Korea's Uljin Pushes Forward with Nuclear Hydrogen Industrial Complex Development

Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, is seeking support from the National Assembly and the government to promote the construction of the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex, with the goal of establishing the region as a clean hydrogen production hub through supporting policies such as stable power supply and hydrogen pipeline networks. On August 31, Uljin County Governor Hwang Ui-jo attended a nuclear hydrogen policy seminar held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to present the progress of the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and the policy tasks required for developing the nuclear hydrogen industry. The seminar was hosted by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum, with participants from the National Assembly, government, local governments, industry, academia, and...

2026-09-02

South Korea's 2027 Budget Proposal Includes First-Ever Funding for Domestic Nuclear Submarine Development

The South Korean government approved its 2027 budget proposal, with total government spending reaching 820.9 trillion won, approximately 95.6 trillion yen, marking a 12.8% increase from the previous year and setting a record high. The budget proposal has been submitted to the National Assembly for review. President Lee Jae-myung presided over a cabinet meeting at the presidential office on September 1, where the budget proposal was reviewed and approved. Under the plan, the South Korean government intends to increase investment in growth-oriented industries, with approximately 2.5 trillion yen allocated to infrastructure development related to semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence, nearly doubling the scale of the previous year. On the revenue side, the South Korean government expects that as AI demand continues to grow and major semiconductor companies see improved performance, corporate income tax and personal income tax revenues will increase significantly.

2026-09-02

South Korea's Nuclear Safety Regulatory Budget for 2027 Rises to KRW 303 Billion

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea announced on September 1 that it has allocated KRW 303 billion for the 2027 budget, an increase of KRW 10.4 billion from this year. The new budget focuses on areas such as small modular reactor regulation, spent nuclear fuel safety, nuclear facility decommissioning review, environmental radiation monitoring, and nuclear safety information disclosure. Regarding small modular reactors, as non-light water reactor-type small modular reactor development projects aim to obtain licenses by the early 2030s, South Korea will invest KRW 8 billion in R&D to establish a new safety evaluation system. In addition, in line with the preliminary review system set to take effect in November this year, the government has allocated KRW 2.7 billion to conduct preliminary reviews of non-light water reactor-type small modular reactors expected to file applications next year. This system allows applicants to request regulatory review of reactor designs before formally submitting license applications.

2026-09-02

South Korea to Launch National Radiation Monitoring Center in 2027

The South Korean government reviewed and approved the "2027 Budget Plan" at a cabinet meeting on September 1. According to the budget arrangement, South Korea will launch the National Radiation Monitoring Center in 2027 to centrally collect and manage national environmental and marine radioactive information; simultaneously, it will expand the Nuclear Safety Information Sharing Center to strengthen direct communication with residents near nuclear power plants. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) has allocated 1.4 billion KRW for the construction and operation of the National Radiation Monitoring Center. The project aims to strengthen the environmental radioactivity monitoring and analysis system to address regulatory demands arising from the expansion of domestic nuclear power utilization in South Korea and the increased operation and construction of nuclear facilities in neighboring countries. The National Radiation Monitoring Center is planned...

2026-09-01

KHNP Holds Executive Forum to Discuss Future Nuclear Power Strategies

On August 31, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) held an executive forum at its headquarters, with approximately 50 key executives in attendance to discuss the company's future vision and mid-to-long-term management direction. The meeting was designed to allow KHNP President Kim Hoi-tyun to share insights gained from his recent on-site management and inspections of domestic and international business operations, and to discuss the company's next-phase development priorities based on these findings. Agenda items included the application of artificial intelligence in the nuclear energy sector, enhancement of nuclear power plant operational capabilities, and strategic directions for the future small modular reactor (SMR) market. Participants assessed the company's existing business foundation and internal ca...

2026-09-01

Korea's Eugene MS Wins KRW 11.4 Billion Order for ITER Core Components

Korea's Eugene MS announced on August 31 that it has signed a contract with the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) to produce and supply the second batch of vacuum vessel port sealing flanges for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The contract is valued at approximately KRW 11.4 billion, equivalent to about 44% of Eugene MS's 2025 revenue of KRW 25.9 billion. The contract period runs through December 2030. Under the arrangement, the sealing flanges will be delivered to the ITER Organization in three batches, with final inspection and related procedures scheduled for completion by June 30, 2031. The ITER vacuum vessel port sealing flanges consist of large fasteners and other components...

2026-08-31

South Korea's KNR Systems Completes Development of Robotic System for PHWR Decommissioning

KNR Systems announced on August 31 that it has completed the development of a platform system for remote cutting and dismantling of radioactive structures in Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR), with final delivery scheduled to commence in September this year. The system originates from a government-commissioned PHWR decommissioning demonstration project. The project, valued at approximately 2.8 billion KRW, was awarded in January last year, with a development period of about seven months. Upon delivery, the equipment will be installed at the Heavy Water Reactor Decommissioning Technology Center of the Korea Research Institute of Decommissioning (KRID) in Gyeongju, for use in PHWR decommissioning demonstrations. Compared with light water reactors, PHWRs have more complex internal structures and typically higher levels of radioactive contamination, making dismantling operations more challenging.

2026-08-31

Korea Hosts ROK-U.S. Nuclear Industry Cooperation Seminar in the United States

The Korea Nuclear Energy Export Industry Association (KNA) announced on August 30 that it held the ROK-U.S. Nuclear Industry Cooperation Seminar in Dallas, Texas, on August 27. The seminar was held in conjunction with NECX 2026, a major nuclear energy event in North America, with the primary purpose of consolidating the foundation for ROK-U.S. nuclear industry cooperation and creating networking opportunities for Korean companies to enter the U.S. market and participate in related nuclear projects. Approximately 70 representatives from the nuclear industry sectors of both countries attended the meeting. Participants included a Korean delegation comprising Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), representatives of Korean small and medium-sized enterprises, and officials from relevant U.S. state government agencies...

2026-08-31

South Korean survey shows 80% of respondents support including new nuclear power plants in power planning

An energy public perception survey released by the Korea Energy Information Culture Foundation on August 28 showed that 82.9% of respondents believed it is necessary to include plans for new nuclear power plants in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand currently being formulated, in response to future growth in electricity demand. The survey was commissioned by the Korea Energy Information Culture Foundation and conducted by Korea Research International via telephone interviews from June 12 to 15, targeting 2,000 adults aged 18 and above. The response rate was 10.0%, with a sampling error of...

2026-08-30

South Korea Launches Standard Design Approval Review for i-SMR

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea is set to initiate a safety review of the standard design approval application for the innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR). This project is part of the small modular reactor research and development program led by the South Korean government. The NSSC stated on August 28 that, at its 13th meeting of 2026 held on August 27, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) reported on the review plan for the i-SMR standard design approval application. KINS had previously conducted a suitability review of the standard design approval application documents submitted in February of this year and determined that the documents met the conditions for entering the safety review phase, thereby establishing a subsequent review plan. The standard design approval system is designed to...

2026-08-28

South Korea's Pohang to Build Core Component Factory for Small Modular Reactors

The city of Pohang and North Gyeongsang Province recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Heavy Industries Turbomachinery Co., Ltd. to build a large-scale production plant for eco-friendly turbomachinery and core components for small modular reactors (SMRs) at the fourth comprehensive industrial complex in Pohang's Yeongil Bay, with an investment of approximately 100 billion KRW. Under the agreement, Hyundai Heavy Industries Turbomachinery plans to carry out the project between 2026 and 2029, constructing related production facilities on a 101,128-square-meter site within the complex. Upon completion, the project is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs and boost the local manufacturing sector...

2026-08-28