KHNP selects candidate sites for new nuclear reactors

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- The state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) said Wednesday it has picked candidate sites to host two new nuclear reactors to be built by 2038.

Yeongdeok, about 349 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was selected as the candidate site for two nuclear plants with a total of 2.8GW capacity, and Gijang, Busan's northeastern county, was picked as the site to host a 0.7GW-generating small nuclear modular reactor (SMR).

The move came as the government confirmed plans to build two large-scale nuclear reactors between 2037 and 2038.

Reversing an earlier stance opposing the construction of new nuclear power plants, the government decided earlier this year to stick to the country's plan to build additional nuclear reactors, citing growing power demand driven by the growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector and the need to increase the use of clean energy.

The two candidate cities have shown interest in hosting the new nuclear reactors, according to the nuclear power operator.

This file photo, taken Dec. 25, 2014, shows nuclear reactors at Gori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan, 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)