South Korea has revised its nuclear power plans following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, a proponent of atomic energy.
The opposition party Democratic Party now has greater influence over the country’s energy policy, according to a report by Bloomberg.
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The government plans to add 3.5GW of nuclear capacity by 2038, down from the previously proposed 4.9GW, while renewable energy capacity will increase slightly to 122GW from 120GW.
The decision to cancel plans for one of the three proposed 1.4GW reactors aligns with the Democratic Party’s preference for renewable energy sources.
Despite this, South Korea still plans to build a 700MW small modular reactor by 2036 and aims to reduce its reliance on coal and natural gas.
During his tenure as president, Yoon prioritised nuclear power as a means to reduce emissions, contrasting with the previous administration’s anti-nuclear stance.
His impeachment followed his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
South Korea, heavily dependent on fossil fuels, has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2018 levels by 2030.
However, this target lags behind global peers. The country also missed submitting an updated climate goal to the United Nations, despite a Constitutional Court ruling that deemed the absence of incremental climate goals from 2030 to 2050 unconstitutional.
The energy plan forecasts a decline in coal and liquefied natural gas usage, with LNG expected to account for 11% and coal for 10% of electricity generation by 2038.
South Korea plans to incorporate hydrogen and ammonia for co-firing in existing coal plants, aiming for these fuels to constitute more than 6% of the country’s power mix by 2038.
In a related development, in November 2024 Synera Renewable Energy Group, a Taiwanese offshore wind developer, revealed a joint venture (JV) with Moondo Wind Energy to progress offshore wind development in South Korea.
The JV, named Moondo Offshore Wind Energy, will work on developing an 840MW wind farm near Geomundo Island, Yeosu City, in Jeollanam-do Province at the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula.
