Kim Hoecheon Inaugurated as KHNP President: "Advancing Global Nuclear Power with Seungpungpalang Spirit"

Emphasizing Safety First, Increasing Nuclear Power Plant Utilization, and Accelerating New Construction
Proposing a Two-Track Strategy with SMRs and Large-Scale Nuclear Power Plants to Expand Overseas Orders

Kim Hoecheon was inaugurated as the 11th President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) on March 18, 2026.

At the inauguration ceremony held at the KHNP headquarters in Gyeongju on this day, President Kim emphasized, "Let us move forward together with the spirit of Seungpungpalang (Riding the wind and breaking the waves), and stand tall in the global nuclear power industry." He continued, "Ensuring safety is an essential value for KHNP's existence," adding, "We need thorough preparation for unexpected equipment incidents and prompt, safe construction."

President Kim presented several key tasks for the future of the energy industry, including the principle of prioritizing safety, stable operation and increased efficiency of existing facilities, and the seamless construction of new nuclear power plants. He also identified radioactive waste management, securing public acceptance, strengthening nuclear decommissioning technology, securing competitiveness in the era of energy transition, expanding overseas business, and restoring public trust as major management directions.

In particular, regarding overseas business, he stated, "We will establish a two-track strategy to preempt the nuclear power market with both large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs)." He added, "We will successfully implement previously secured projects while also pioneering new markets with demand-specific strategies."

Immediately following the inauguration ceremony, President Kim presided over an "Emergency Management Inspection Meeting on the Middle East Crisis," where he reviewed the status of nuclear power plant operations, the safety of overseas construction sites, and the nuclear fuel supply chain. During this meeting, he called for thorough preparations to ensure a stable electricity supply.

He then visited the Kori Nuclear Power Headquarters to begin his first on-site management activity. President Kim emphasized, "Kori Nuclear Power Headquarters is a symbolic facility where the past, present, and future of our nuclear power coexist," and added, "The core of nuclear power plant operations is safety, and we must secure public trust through safety."

President Kim also expressed his commitment to labor-management relations. He visited the labor union office on the same day to meet with union members, stating, "KHNP has been able to establish itself as a pivotal force in national energy security thanks to the cooperation between labor and management," and added, "I will listen to the voices of the union and strengthen a trust-based labor-management relationship."

President Kim joined Korea Electric Power Corporation in 1985, where he served as Director of Planning, Head of the Management Headquarters, and Vice President for Management Support. He later worked as a research professor at the Department of Energy IT at Gachon University and served as President of Korea South-East Power.

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