South Korea confirms new nuclear reactors and SMR rollout

South Korea’s government has confirmed it will move ahead with two new large scale nuclear reactors and the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) under the 11th Basic Power Supply Plan, bringing an end to months of policy review. The two reactors will have a combined capacity of 2,800 MWe and are scheduled for completion in 2037 and 2038, while 700 MWe of SMR capacity is planned by 2035.

Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan said that although a full transition to renewable energy remains the ideal, South Korea’s isolated power grid makes nuclear generation unavoidable. He cited a public survey conducted in January, in which 89.5% of respondents said nuclear power is necessary, and nearly 70% supported the construction of new reactors.

The decision resolves uncertainty that emerged after Lee Jae Myung took office in June 2025 and ordered a review of the plan over concerns related to feasibility and public consultation. With the review concluded, the government now plans to accelerate implementation, while acknowledging that timelines are tight, as large reactor projects typically take around 14 years from site selection to completion.

Under the implementation roadmap, state owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power will begin a public bidding process to select host sites within the next five to six months. Licensing processes, including environmental and radiological assessments, are expected to be completed by 2029. Construction permits are anticipated in the early 2030s, with excavation and concrete pouring scheduled to start around 2031.

The 11th Basic Power Supply Plan projects nuclear electricity generation rising from 180.5 TWh in 2023 to 248.3 TWh in 2038. Over the same period, nuclear’s share of total power generation is expected to increase from 30.7% to 35.2%. Minister Kim also signalled openness to additional nuclear projects in the future, noting that the 12th Basic Power Supply Plan, currently under preparation, will reassess capacity requirements in light of growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicles.

As of late 2025-2026, South Korea’s power mix continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels, which account for more than 60% of electricity generation, alongside nuclear power at around 30%. Coal contributes roughly 32-33%, while natural gas accounts for about 20-25%. Renewable energy capacity is expanding but still represents a smaller share. The government is pursuing nuclear expansion as part of its strategy to achieve 70% carbon free electricity by 2038.