South Korea's nuclear regulator to vote on 10-year extensions for Kori reactors
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission will meet Tuesday to decide whether to grant a decade-long operating extension to the Kori-3 and Kori-4 reactors, which have exceeded their original 40-year design life.
South Korea's nuclear watchdog, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, is scheduled to convene on Tuesday to consider extending the service life of two aging reactors at the Kori complex. The request, submitted by state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., seeks to restart the 950-megawatt pressurized water reactors Kori-3 and Kori-4, both of which have surpassed the 40-year design period. Kori-3 was suspended on 28 September 2024, while Kori-4's original operating term ended on 6 August 2025.
This deliberation follows the commission's recent approval of an accident-management program that outlines safety measures and response strategies for the plants. If the extension is granted, Kori-3 could remain in service until September 2034 and Kori-4 until August 2035, joining Kori-2, which received a ten-year extension last year. The decision is part of a broader plan to seek life extensions for nine older nuclear facilities across the country.
Why it matters
Extending the reactors' operation impacts South Korea's energy supply, safety oversight, and future nuclear policy.
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