The continued operation of Unit 2 at the Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Gijang, Busan, which had been shut down for two and a half years, has been approved.
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission held its 224th meeting on the 13th and voted to approve the continued operation of Kori Unit 2. The lifespan of Kori Unit 2 has been extended by 10 years from the expiration of its design life, to April 2033.
Kori Unit 2 is a pressurized water reactor (a method that pressurizes high-temperature water to produce steam) nuclear plant with an electric output of 685 megawatts (MWe) that began commercial operation on April 9, 1983. After operating for 40 years, it was halted in April 2023 when its design life expired.
The commission reviewed the draft approval for continued operation of Kori Unit 2 twice, on Sept. 25 (the 222nd meeting) and Oct. 23 (the 223rd meeting), but deferred a decision in line with Commissioners' views that more review time was needed.
At the meeting, the commission confirmed that sufficient safety margins are secured during the continued operation period through April 8, 2033. It also confirmed that the impacts from continued operation and the impacts of major accidents, including severe accidents, all meet safety standards, and voted to approve the continued operation of Kori Unit 2.
Many assessed that the approval goes beyond a simple restart and signals the new administration's policy direction on nuclear power. President Lee Jae-myung said at a news conference marking his 100th day in office that "if safety is ensured, we will extend and use reactors whose operating periods have passed, and we will use nuclear power and renewable energy in a reasonable mix."
According to the commission, KHNP plans to carry out equipment replacements related to securing safety margins for Kori Unit 2, and Kori Unit 2 is scheduled to restart after suitability is confirmed through on-site inspections by the commission.
Chairperson Choi Won-ho said, "Through on-site inspections, we will thoroughly verify whether KHNP's equipment improvements are implemented in conformity with safety standards so that Kori Unit 2 can be operated safely."