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| Shin-Kori | |
|---|---|
| Name | Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant |
| Country | South Korea |
| Location | Gori, Busan |
| Operator | Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power |
| Status | Operational and under construction |
| Type | Pressurized Water Reactor (APR1400) |
| Units operational | Units 1–4 |
| Units under construction | Units 5–6 |
| Electrical capacity | ~5,560 MW (gross) |
Shin-Kori is a nuclear power complex located near Gori Nuclear Power Site, on the coast of Busan, South Korea. It forms part of South Korea's national energy infrastructure alongside facilities such as Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant and Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, and is operated by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). Shin-Kori combines pressurized water reactor technology with designs derived from the OPR-1000 lineage and the APR1400 program, reflecting South Korea's role in global nuclear engineering and export efforts like the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant contract.
Shin-Kori is sited adjacent to the older Kori Nuclear Power Plant complex and comprises multiple reactor units built in stages during the 2010s and 2020s. The plant contributes to South Korea's baseload portfolio, interacting with national frameworks such as energy planning overseen by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and regulatory oversight from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Shin-Kori's development intersects with international partners and vendors including Westinghouse Electric Company and technology transfer arrangements involving the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
Plans for new units at the Gori site trace to expansion decisions made by KEPCO and policy shifts following the 1990s nuclear policy debates in Seoul. Construction timelines were influenced by national events such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and subsequent global reassessments by bodies like the International Atomic Energy Agency. Political changes in administrations based in Blue House affected licensing and public consultation, while civil society groups including Greenpeace and domestic advocacy organizations engaged in litigation and public campaigns. South Korea's nuclear export ambitions, demonstrated in projects like the United Arab Emirates Barakah project, reinforced domestic investment in Shin-Kori's reactor designs.
Shin-Kori hosts a mix of reactor models: earlier units are based on the Oyster Creek-influenced OPR-1000 lineage adapted by KEPCO affiliates, while later units use the APR1400 standardized design. Units 1–4 include completed reactors with commercial operation dates staggered across the 2010s, and Units 5–6 were constructed as APR1400 units with timelines linked to certification by the International Atomic Energy Agency and inspections by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (South Korea). The APR1400 design has been evaluated in international markets such as United Arab Emirates and inspected under bilateral cooperation with agencies like the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission on best practices.
The APR1400 integrates passive and active safety features derived from international research at institutions such as KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) and collaborations with companies like Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction. Systems include redundant emergency core cooling and containment structures informed by experiences from plants such as Three Mile Island and safety recommendations from the IAEA. Control rooms and instrumentation reflect digital upgrades influenced by standards from WANO and IEEE. The APR1400's modular construction approach drew on global supply chains involving firms such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and international steel and turbine manufacturers.
Construction of Shin-Kori units involved major Korean conglomerates and state-owned entities including Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Doosan. Key milestones included concrete pouring, reactor vessel installation, and fuel loading sequences monitored by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Commissioning phases required cold and hot functional tests, integrated system checks, and grid synchronization with the Korea Electric Power Corporation transmission network. Delays and schedule adjustments were occasionally associated with regulatory reviews and responses to incidents at other plants, prompting enhanced inspection regimes in partnership with international experts from IAEA and regional bodies like the Asian Nuclear Safety Regulators Forum.
Operational oversight at Shin-Kori is conducted by KHNP under the regulatory authority of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and subject to technical assessments by Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and international peer reviews. Safety culture initiatives reference lessons from events such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and best practices promulgated by WANO. Emergency preparedness coordinates with local governments in Busan and provincial authorities, and routine inspections include containment integrity tests, seismic assessments linked to studies by the Korea Meteorological Administration, and probabilistic risk assessments informed by international research consortia.
Shin-Kori contributes substantial low-carbon baseload generation to South Korea's 2030 energy roadmap and national targets that interact with international commitments under agreements like the Paris Agreement. Environmental monitoring addresses marine thermal discharge affecting the Sea of Japan/East Sea ecosystem and fisheries interests represented by local cooperatives and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Economically, Shin-Kori supports employment in sectors including heavy industry and engineering through firms like Hyundai and Doosan, and factors into South Korea's energy security debates alongside alternatives promoted by political parties in the National Assembly. The plant's role in export diplomacy and technology demonstration continues to influence Korea's position in global nuclear markets exemplified by contracts with countries including the United Arab Emirates and partnerships with entities such as KEPCO E&C.
Category:Nuclear power stations in South Korea