As the government said it would build additional nuclear power plants to supply power for the "Honam semiconductor cluster," attention is focusing on new sites. The government initially judged it was possible to build two new reactors on the existing site of the Hanbit headquarters in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla, but Yeonggwang County opposed attracting new nuclear plants, making the situation difficult.
Experts say that with the current local government bidding method for selecting new nuclear power plant sites, there is a high possibility that plants will be concentrated along the East Sea coast. That is because the East Sea region is more receptive to nuclear power than the Honam region. Some argue that a special law should be enacted to allow power infrastructure to be built together where semiconductor fabs (fabrication plants) are located.
According to government officials on the 20th, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is focusing on organizing key policy tasks ahead of the presidential briefing scheduled for next month. In particular, measures to supply power and water for the Honam semiconductor cluster are expected to be included among the top priorities.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix plan to invest 800 trillion won in the Honam region to build four semiconductor plants. Semiconductor production requires a large volume of water and a stable 24-hour power supply. Because the success or failure of the investment plan depends on securing infrastructure, the industry is demanding concrete execution plans from the government.
The government has formalized the inclusion of new nuclear power plants in the 12th Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand. Minister Kim Seong-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said at the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung on the 13th, "We will decide whether to introduce new nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs) after gathering expert opinions and conducting a public debate."
The question is where to build them. The government is reviewing a plan to build new reactors by using existing nuclear sites. It cites sufficient space to build two units each at the Hanbit headquarters in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla, and the Saeul headquarters in Ulju County, Ulsan. Minister Kim previously said on a radio program, "There is land to build a total of four units, two each in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla, and Ulju, Ulsan."
It usually takes about 15 years to build a nuclear power plant. Starting with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP)'s site solicitation, the site evaluation and selection process, local council approval rate, and resident opinion surveys within a 5-kilometer radius take several months. This is followed by about two to three years for construction permits and about 10 to 14 years for actual construction and commissioning.
In the energy industry, many believe it will be difficult to build new reactors in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla, contrary to the government's plan. This is because Yeonggwang County did not apply to host new nuclear plants when the government selected new sites in June, citing environmental concerns. Heads of basic local governments wishing to host must submit an application that includes a local council consent form and a plan to secure resident acceptance. If a local government does not apply directly, construction of a new reactor falls apart from the first step.
New nuclear sites within the Honam region are also being discussed as an alternative. In the past, KHNP is known to have found through its own survey that nine regions—including Jindo, Haenam, Jangheung, Goheung, and Yeosu—were suitable as nuclear sites. However, because the survey assessed only site suitability and excluded factors such as resident acceptance and permitting procedures, the actual feasibility of building plants remains uncertain.
Considering resident acceptance, the biggest hurdle, there is also a possibility of building two units at the Saeul headquarters in Ulju County, Ulsan. A plan to use the Human Resources Development Institute site within the headquarters is being actively discussed. Ulju County applied voluntarily to host a new nuclear site but was eliminated in the final candidate selection. As Ulju County has signaled a renewed bid to host new reactors, resident opposition is expected to be limited.
Jung Beom-jin, a professor at Kyunghee University, said, "Seeing local governments compete to host nuclear plants this time, I thought the resident acceptance stage would gradually shrink. If we review the Saeul headquarters site using an existing reactor design, thereby shortening the review period, it is entirely possible to cut the construction schedule to seven years."
Some argue that, because semiconductor fabs will be built in the Honam area, a special law should be enacted to allow power infrastructure to be built in the same place. With the current decision-making structure in which local governments bid directly, there is a strong possibility that reactors will continue to be built along the East Sea line.
An energy industry official said, "If reactors are built through local government bids as they are now, the fairness issue that the regions producing power and those consuming it are different could be highlighted more than in the past," adding, "There is a need to push for enacting a special law."