[Column] Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nakyoung: "Attracting SMR to Gyeongju Is the Key to Korea's Century-Long Energy Strategy"

by Choi Daeok

Published 28 Jan.2026 12:56(KST)

Recently, as the government announced its policy to maintain the construction of new nuclear power plants, there has been growing interest in the selection of the site for the first unit of the "Innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR)," which is considered a key component of the next-generation nuclear power market.

Although several local governments have expressed their intention to attract the project, a comprehensive review of economic feasibility, technological synergy, and policy viability confirms that Gyeongju is the most realistic and well-prepared candidate site.

First, Gyeongju is home to the only complete nuclear cluster in Korea, where the entire nuclear power cycle is concentrated. The Munmu the Great Science Research Institute, which will be responsible for the development and demonstration of core i-SMR technologies, is set to open soon, and a national industrial complex for SMR module manufacturing is currently being established within a 5-kilometer radius.

In addition, the presence of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power headquarters, a radioactive waste disposal facility, and the Heavy Water Reactor Decommissioning Technology Center means that Gyeongju is uniquely positioned to support the entire nuclear power lifecycle-research, demonstration, manufacturing, operation, and decommissioning-all in one region.

Second, Gyeongju is the optimal location to minimize the national fiscal burden and to advance the project most rapidly.

By utilizing idle land within the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant and the already established power grid, it is possible to dramatically reduce the significant costs and time associated with developing a new site.

This is a critical factor in making the national roadmap for i-SMR commercialization in the early 2030s a reality.

Third, Gyeongju offers the best conditions for demonstrating the industrial applicability of i-SMR. By linking with the steel industry in nearby Pohang, electricity and heat generated by i-SMR can be used to produce clean hydrogen, which can then be applied to hydrogen-based steelmaking processes-presenting a practical solution for Korea’s carbon neutrality strategy.

With the ability to secure a stable, large-scale demand base, Gyeongju is a city with realistic conditions for establishing a complete i-SMR industrial ecosystem.

Fourth, Gyeongju’s competitiveness is clear in that it is already concretizing a carbon-neutral city model utilizing i-SMR at the implementation stage.

In April 2024, Gyeongju City signed a business agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to create a carbon-neutral city using SMR technology.

Through this agreement, the two organizations agreed to cooperate in realizing carbon neutrality based on SMR, including the establishment of a national SMR industrial complex, a technopolis, and the activation of zero-carbon energy.

Lastly, the high level of public acceptance of nuclear power and the mature civic consciousness of Gyeongju’s citizens stand out.

Gyeongju has long supported national energy security, and the responsible choices demonstrated by its citizens during the process of attracting the radioactive waste disposal facility have provided a foundation for the stable implementation of national projects without social conflict.

The selection of the site for the first i-SMR unit is not merely a matter of competition among local governments, but a national decision that will determine the efficiency and feasibility of Korea’s energy strategy.

With research, demonstration, manufacturing, operation, and the application of a carbon-neutral city all organically connected in one place, Gyeongju is the city that best aligns with the purpose and objectives of the first i-SMR unit.

For the revitalization of Korea’s nuclear industry and the strengthening of energy sovereignty, launching the first step of i-SMR in Gyeongju is not just a simple wish-it is a historical necessity.

Junakyoung, Mayor of Gyeongju