Overview

• The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission met on Sept. 25 but said it needs more time to review Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power’s request to restart Kori-2 beyond its initial 40-year license.
• The commission will reconvene on Oct. 23 to continue deliberations, with some commissioners reportedly raising objections during the review of the accident management plan.
• Kori-2 is a 650-megawatt lightwater reactor that began commercial operation in April 1983 and has been offline since April 2023; approval would allow operation through April 2033.
• This case is the first of 10 extension requests from KHNP and is seen as a barometer for nine other aging reactors, with Kori-3 and Kori-4 already suspended and seven more nearing end of life by 2030.
• Experts say potential extensions could bolster electricity supply, and President Lee Jae Myung supports continued use of existing reactors as part of a reasonable energy mix while opposing new builds.