Yeongdeok Restarts the Clock on Attracting a Nuclear Power Plant

With a Proven 3.24 Million Square Meter Site and 86% Public Support,
Yeongdeok Enters Full-Scale Competition to Attract New Nuclear Power Plant

Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province has officially begun the process to attract a new nuclear power plant.

On April 24, Yeongdeok County announced that it had formally submitted its local government support plan in relation to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's public invitation for candidate sites for new nuclear power plant construction.

Yeongdeok County Submits New Nuclear Power Plant Support Plan
Photo by Yeongdeok County

The county emphasized that the submitted plan, which comprehensively addresses site suitability, environmental factors, construction feasibility, and local community acceptance, demonstrates that Yeongdeok is a well-prepared candidate site with the capacity to successfully undertake the project.

Yeongdeok County’s key competitive edge is its “proven site.” The area comprising Seok-ri, Nomul-ri, and Maejung-ri in Yeongdeok-eup, as well as Gyeongjeong-ri in Chuksan-myeon, covers approximately 3.24 million square meters. This site previously underwent geological surveys, environmental reviews, land compensation procedures, and designation as a power generation development zone during the former Cheonji nuclear power plant initiative.

The county highlights that, as a significant level of site verification has already been completed, both the time and administrative burden for constructing a new nuclear plant can be reduced.

The site’s geographical conditions are also considered an advantage. Located at a high elevation, the site offers enhanced safety against natural disasters and benefits from existing transmission networks and transportation infrastructure that can be linked with current nuclear plants, thereby providing favorable conditions for construction and operation. The available land area is also sufficient to accommodate not only large nuclear facilities but also future expansions of the energy industry.

Community acceptance is another major strength for Yeongdeok County. In a public opinion survey conducted in February, 86.18% of residents expressed support for attracting a new nuclear power plant. The Yeongdeok County Council further reinforced this by passing a motion to apply for the site and adopting a resolution in support. As the pan-county invitation committee drives increased civilian participation, the overall momentum in the local community is growing.

The county is also strengthening its administrative response system. A task force dedicated to attracting the new nuclear plant has been handling the application process, and in the second half of the year, a specialized organization will be formed to establish a comprehensive system covering permits, community engagement, and industrial cooperation. Yeongdeok County also plans to enhance policy planning and execution through joint efforts with North Gyeongsang Province.

Attracting a new nuclear power plant is more than simply bringing in a power facility; it is also linked to strategies for transforming the region’s industrial structure. Building on past experience with the development of Yeongdeok’s Second Agro-Industrial Complex, Ogok residential site in Yeongdeok-eup, and Opo residential site in Ganggu-myeon during the Cheonji project, the county plans to establish supporting industrial complexes for nuclear power and expand the local energy industry ecosystem.

In particular, the county aims to combine a new nuclear power plant with the Gyeongsangbuk-do Energy Industry Convergence Complex, which is centered on wind power, to secure a stable baseload power supply. It also plans to link this to industries such as hydrogen, energy storage systems (ESS), electric power equipment, and marine energy, aspiring to become a leading energy industry hub on the East Coast. To support this, Yeongdeok County is in the process of enacting an ordinance for the promotion and support of the nuclear power industry.

A Yeongdeok County official stated, “The submission of this support plan marks a substantial starting point for securing the new nuclear power plant,” adding, “We will achieve concrete results based on our proven site and the unified will of our residents.”

Meanwhile, on March 27, Yeongdeok County submitted an official application to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to host the new nuclear plant candidate site. The application targets two APR1400 units with a total capacity of 2.8GW. The final site selection result is scheduled to be announced at the end of June. If selected, the project will proceed in stages: designation of the planned area in 2027, approval of the implementation plan in 2029, groundbreaking in 2031, and completion between 2037 and 2038.

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