Construction of new Korean reactor begins

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced "the start of full-scale structural work by pouring the first concrete for the reactor building, a key construction process for Shin Hanul unit 3, at the Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 construction site on 20 May".

In November 2014, KHNP signed an agreement with Ulchin County to build Shin Hanul 3 and 4. The company applied for a construction licence for the units in January 2016. Site preparation for the two units was originally scheduled to begin in May 2017, with commercial operation of unit 3 scheduled for December 2022, with unit 4 following a year later.

However, KHNP announced in May 2017 that it had instructed Kepco Engineering & Construction - which signed a design contract in March 2016 - to suspend work for the planned units as a result of the then new President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power. Work towards licensing the new units continued.

_{A ceremony marked the pouring of first concrete (Image: KHNP)}

President Yoon Seok-yeol - who assumed power in May 2022 - reversed the former president's policy of phasing out nuclear power. In July 2022, Yoon encouraged a speedy restoration of the country's "nuclear power plant ecosystem" after Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang set out plans for revitalising South Korea's nuclear power industry, including the aim for work on Shin Hanul 3 and 4 to resume as early as 2024.

Preparatory groundwork began for the construction of the two APR1400s following the approval by the South Korean government of the project's implementation plan in June 2023. This effectively approved 20 licensing and permitting procedures under the jurisdiction of 11 ministries required for the construction of nuclear power plants. South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission issued a licence to KHNP for the construction of Shin Hanul 3 and 4 in September last year. A ceremony was held the following month to mark the start of work on the two units.

In March 2023, KHNP and Doosan Enerbility signed a KRW2.9 trillion (USD2.2 billion) contract for the supply of the main equipment for Shin Hanul 3 and 4. Under the contract - which will run for 10 years - Doosan Enerbility will supply the nuclear reactors, steam generators and turbine generators for the two APR1400 units.

_{An artistic impression of Shin Hanul 3 and 4 (Image: KHNP)}

"We will do our best to raise K-Power's status in the global nuclear power plant construction market by achieving the goal of 'On-Time, Within Budget' as well as the safe construction of Shin Hanul units 3 and 4," said KHNP President Hwang Joo-ho.

"Shin Hanul unit 3 is scheduled to be completed in 2032 after structural construction, installation of equipment such as the reactor, and stage-by-stage testing," KHNP said. "Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 are expected to contribute significantly to the revitalisation of the nuclear power industry economy as a symbol of strengthening the nuclear power ecosystem after the resumption of operations in 2022, and will become the safest nuclear power plant representing Korea."

South Korea has four operational APR1400 units - Saeul units 1 and 2 (formerly Shin Kori 3 and 4) and Shin Hanul units 1 and 2. Two further APR1400s are under construction as Saeul units 3 and 4. Four APR1400 units have also been built at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, which are all now in commercial operation.

Article researched and written by WNN's Warwick Pipe