Yoon, Nuclear Advisor: "Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 Construction May Resume Within This Year"

Professor Joo Han-kyu of Seoul National University, Leading Nuclear Policy in Yoon's Camp
Plans to Resume Construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 Within This Year
Environmental Impact Assessment Validity Expired in August Last Year
Considering Using Data from Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2
"Will Soon Begin Related Discussions with KHNP"

Professor Joo Han-kyu, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Seoul National University. He is one of the leading nuclear power experts in Korea and was the key figure in designing nuclear and energy policies at President-elect Yoon's presidential campaign.
[Photo by Seoul National University]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The resumption of construction for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, a campaign promise of Yoon Seok-yeol, the president-elect of the 20th Republic of Korea, is expected to be pursued as early as within this year. This decision is based on the judgment that the domestic nuclear power ecosystem, which was pushed to the brink of collapse due to the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy, must be restored as soon as possible.

Professor Joo Han-kyu of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Seoul National University stated this in an interview with Asia Economy on the 11th. Professor Joo is one of the leading nuclear power experts in Korea and was a key figure in designing nuclear and energy policies at Yoon’s presidential campaign. Yoon also sought advice from Professor Joo shortly after announcing his candidacy in July last year.

Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 is a project to build two 1400MW-class Korean New Generation Reactors in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, and is considered one of the core elements of the next administration’s nuclear policy. Although it was confirmed in the 4th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand in 2008, the Moon administration halted construction in 2017, making it a symbol of the nuclear phase-out policy. At that time, construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 was nearly 30% complete when it was stopped, resulting in sunk costs amounting to 779 billion KRW.

Professor Joo said, "The next government’s goal to resume construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 within this year is based on the judgment that the nuclear industry, which was driven to the edge by the nuclear phase-out policy, must be revived." He added, "We are reviewing ways to resume construction within this year without violating regulations," and "Since the nuclear power pledge was to 'immediately resume construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4,' there is a consensus that it must be implemented as soon as possible."

Professor Joo also explained that the resumption of construction for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 must be expedited to meet the target share of nuclear power generation. President-elect Yoon plans to raise the share of nuclear power generation from the 25-29% range over the past five years to 35% by 2030. Professor Joo said, "As electricity consumption is increasing, maintaining the nuclear power share at the 30% level is insufficient with existing power sources," adding, "Even without building new nuclear plants, nuclear power can be made a core driver of carbon neutrality through the construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 and extending the design life of existing reactors."

The problem is that the environmental impact assessment for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 expired in August last year. Under current law, the validity period of an environmental impact assessment is five years. Such assessments typically take more than a year. Collecting environmental data such as wind speed and temperature at the project site alone takes about a year. Even if the assessment starts immediately, it would realistically be completed only by next year.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, after declaring his candidacy for the 20th presidential election last July, sought advice from Professor Joo Han-kyu of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Seoul National University. The photo shows President-elect Yoon in conversation with Professor Joo. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In response, Professor Joo is considering using environmental data from Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2 for the environmental impact assessment of Units 3 and 4. The environmental impact assessment for Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2, whose construction was delayed due to the nuclear phase-out policy, is still valid. Professor Joo said, "We are reviewing related regulations to see if environmental data from Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2 can be applied to the nearby Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4," and "We will soon begin discussions with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power regarding Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4."

Securing the independence of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), which decides major nuclear policies, is also a challenge. The Nuclear Safety Foundation under the NSSC caused controversy last month by appointing Kim Je-nam, a former Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Society and a nuclear phase-out advocate, as the new chairman. Professor Joo said, "The NSSC has had issues with independence over the past five years," adding, "There is no comprehensive procedure to verify expertise such as experience and academic knowledge in the selection of NSSC commissioners, which is done through government and political party recommendations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.