The final construction sites for new nuclear power plants have been confirmed for the first time in over 10 years. Two new large-scale nuclear power plants will be built in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and one next-generation Small Modular Reactor (SMR) will be located in Gijang-gun, Busan. As the plan to expand nuclear power plants to respond to the rapidly increasing power demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and high-tech industries enters the main track, the East Coast region has emerged as a core hub of the domestic nuclear power industry.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on the 17th that as a result of the deliberation by the New Nuclear Site Selection Committee, Yeongdeok-gun was finally selected as the construction site for the large-scale nuclear plants, and Gijang-gun, Busan was finally selected as the construction site for the SMR.
In the competition for the large-scale nuclear plant site, Yeongdeok was finally chosen, beating Ulju, Ulsan. Yeongdeok is an area that was previously designated as the planned site for the Cheonji Nuclear Power Plant, where site acquisition, geological surveys, and environmental impact assessments had progressed significantly. It is known to have received high scores in terms of project implementation speed and economic feasibility as it possesses an already secured site, power transmission network connection conditions, and nuclear power plant construction infrastructure.
For the SMR site, Gijang-gun, Busan was selected over Gyeongju. Gijang is adjacent to the country's largest nuclear power plant concentration area where the Kori Nuclear Power Plant and Saeul Nuclear Power Plant are located. It was evaluated as suitable for building the nation's first SMR because it possesses nuclear power plant operation experience, related industrial infrastructure, and excellent grid connection conditions.
In particular, Gijang is an area where the Busan Metropolitan City government has been actively carrying out hosting activities to foster SMRs as a future strategic industry. Synergy effects, such as fostering the equipment and materials industry in connection with the southeastern region's nuclear power plant industry ecosystem and expanding research and development, are also expected.
With this decision, the East Coast region will build the nation's largest nuclear power cluster connecting the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in Uljin, the Wolsheng Nuclear Power Plant in Gyeongju, the Kori and Saeul Nuclear Power Plants in Busan, the new large-scale nuclear plants in Yeongdeok, and the SMR in Gijang. The region expects the effects of tens of trillions of won worth of investment, job creation, and the expansion of the nuclear power plant industry ecosystem.
The new nuclear power plant construction project is a core energy infrastructure project reflected in the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand. The government has pushed forward the construction of two new large-scale nuclear plants and one SMR, judging that securing a stable carbon-free energy source is essential for fostering the AI industry and strengthening the competitiveness of high-tech manufacturing such as semiconductors and batteries.
