From the bustling halls of Gyeongju’s HICO convention center to the windswept coastlines of Chungnam and the humming construction sites of Ulsan and Uljin, South Korea’s nuclear energy sector has been making headlines this week. The nation’s push to balance surging energy demand with environmental stewardship and community engagement is on full display as government agencies, state-run companies, and local communities chart a course for the future.
South Korea’s energy landscape is shifting rapidly, driven by the explosive growth in electricity demand anticipated in the age of artificial intelligence. According to MBN News, the government has adopted a dual-track policy that combines renewable sources with a major expansion of nuclear power. The rationale? As one official put it, “Renewables alone cannot handle the explosive increase in power demand expected in the AI era.”
Nowhere is this strategy more visible than at the construction sites of the Saewool and Shinhanul nuclear power plants. In Ulsan’s Ulju County, the fourth reactor unit at the Saewool Nuclear Power Plant stands at 97.9% completion, with high-temperature functional tests having wrapped up in February 2026. The final phase—fuel loading—is now in preparation, with commercial operation targeted for the second half of 2027. This new reactor is a behemoth, boasting an annual generation capacity of 10.4 billion kilowatt-hours. To put it in perspective, that’s enough electricity to supply 20% of everything Seoul’s residents use in a year. “We completed high-temperature functional tests this February and are currently preparing for fuel loading,” said Lim Ha-yeon, deputy manager at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, in a televised interview.
Meanwhile, in Gyeongbuk Uljin, the Shinhanul 3 and 4 reactors are taking shape. Concrete drilling began last year, and reactor assembly is now underway. These two units are slated for completion in 2032 and 2033, respectively. The scale of these projects is staggering. As MBN News reported, “The power generated by Shinhanul 1 and 2 reactors is enough to operate two to three new semiconductor factories. When Shinhanul 3 and 4 are finished, the total power output will double.” Once the Saewool 3 and 4 and Shinhanul 3 and 4 reactors come online, South Korea’s nuclear fleet will number 30 reactors—solidifying its status as a global nuclear powerhouse.
This nuclear resurgence is not just about capacity, but also about innovation and sustainability. From May 20 to May 22, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) played a leading role at the 2026 Spring Academic Conference of the Korean Hydrogen and New Energy Society, held at Gyeongju HICO. There, the company organized and led a special session titled “Trends in Large-Scale Hydrogen Production Demonstration Technology.” The focus was on clean hydrogen production and the path to commercialization, a topic that is rapidly gaining traction as countries seek to decarbonize their economies.
The session featured a range of presentations: from life cycle assessments (LCA) of green hydrogen production using Jeju Island’s unique power mix, to the construction of hydrogen production plants linked to renewable energy, and the development of optimal operation technologies for clean hydrogen facilities. These discussions reflect a broader industry trend—integrating nuclear and renewable energy sources to create a more resilient, low-carbon power grid.
Gong Young-gon, head of the hydrogen convergence department at KHNP, delivered the keynote, underscoring the company’s commitment to building an economical clean hydrogen production system anchored by a stable power supply. “We are focusing our efforts on establishing an economical clean hydrogen production system based on stable power supply,” he said. “Through collaboration among industry, academia, and research, we aim to lead the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem.” According to Dream Journal, this vision was met with considerable interest from conference participants, many of whom flocked to KHNP’s exhibition booth, which was linked with the SSNC (SMR Smart Net-zero City) initiative.
But the nuclear sector’s influence isn’t confined to technical conferences and construction sites. It also extends into local communities, where companies are working to build trust and foster environmental stewardship. On May 21, Korea Nuclear Fuel (KNF) signed a sisterhood agreement with Wolhaseong Village in Seocheon County, Chungnam. As reported by Local Today, approximately 20 members of the company’s volunteer group, EnerTopia, rolled up their sleeves for a coastal cleanup, collecting discarded fishing gear and marine debris. Such efforts are more than symbolic—they’re a tangible demonstration of the industry’s commitment to the communities in which it operates.
These developments come at a critical juncture for South Korea. The nation’s energy policy is under intense scrutiny as it seeks to reconcile economic growth, energy security, and environmental sustainability. The dual-track approach—pairing renewables with nuclear—reflects a pragmatic recognition that neither path alone can meet the country’s needs. Nuclear power, with its ability to generate vast amounts of electricity around the clock, is seen as indispensable for supporting both residential consumption and the energy-hungry tech sector, especially as AI and advanced manufacturing accelerate the demand curve.
At the same time, there is a growing emphasis on leveraging nuclear power to enable clean hydrogen production. Hydrogen is widely touted as a key enabler of the green transition, capable of decarbonizing sectors that are hard to electrify directly. By coupling nuclear’s reliability with hydrogen’s versatility, South Korea hopes to carve out a leadership position in the emerging global hydrogen economy.
Yet, challenges remain. The construction of new reactors is a massive undertaking, both financially and logistically. It requires not only technical expertise but also robust regulatory oversight, transparent community engagement, and a long-term commitment to safety. The government, for its part, is betting that this investment will pay off—not just in kilowatt-hours, but in jobs, innovation, and international competitiveness.
As the dust settles on the conference floors and construction sites, one thing is clear: South Korea’s nuclear energy sector is moving full steam ahead, blending tradition with innovation, and local engagement with global ambition. Whether this approach will prove sustainable in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, the country is making a bold statement about its energy future—one that’s drawing attention both at home and abroad.