President Lee Jae-myung suggested that Korea will not increase the number of nuclear power plants going forward and will raise the share of renewable energy. He also stressed that the government would provide sweeping support for the solar power renewable energy industry, which was also fostered under Moon Jae-in's administration.
At a news conference marking the 100th day in office held at the state guesthouse at the Blue House on the morning of the 11th, Lee said, "It takes at least 15 years to build a nuclear plant, and there is no place to build them."
Lee said, "What is called SMR, or small modular reactors, has not completed technological development, and we immediately need enormous power for artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers," adding, "The energy system that can supply that power most quickly is renewable energy such as solar and wind."
He went on, "We should focus on wind and solar renewable energy and massively grow that industry," emphasizing, "We should not wage an ideological war over policy. Even if we start nuclear now, it would take 10 years before we might or might not complete it, but wind power and solar power take 1–2 years."
Lee also said, "What nuclear plants are we building? If safety is ensured, we will extend the operation of those past their operating period, and the energy mix policy of using nuclear and renewables in a rational combination has not changed," adding, "If there are buildable sites and safety is secured, we will do it, but building more than 30 nuclear reactors is not feasible."
He added, "In the energy sector, it is better to resolve issues through internal discussion," and, "There is no need to fight over things like phasing out nuclear, reducing nuclear, or the energy mix. Do it if needed, do it if safety is ensured, and if not, then don't."