S. Korea approves decommissioning of Kori-1 nuclear reactor

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has approved the decommissioning of the country's first commercial nuclear reactor, the now-defunct Kori-1 unit, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) said Thursday, also marking its first-ever decommissioning of a reactor. Unit 1 of the Kori nuclear power plant, located in the southeastern city of Busan, was permanently shut down in June 2017 after operating for about 40 years since April 1978. In May last year, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) began chemical decontamination to remove radioactive materials from the reactor, marking a crucial first step in the decommissioning process. The KHNP said the successful dismantling of the Kori-1 reactor will be significant for the nuclear and related industries as it will open up new business opportunities in the global reactor decommissioning market. "The full dismantling of the Kori-1 reactor is expected to take 12 years due to challenges related to the construction of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities," an NSSC official said. Excluding Kori-1, South Korea has 26 nuclear reactors. Of these, 20 are currently in operation with a combined capacity of 20,854 megawatts electric (MWe). Among the remaining six, five are undergoing regulatory maintenance, while the temporarily suspended Kori-2 reactor is awaiting government approval for extended operation after decades of service, the official said. This file photo, provided by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. on Oct. 29, 2019, shows the now-retired Kori-1 nuclear reactor located in the southeastern port city of Busan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr(END)

https://img.yna.co.kr/etc/inner/EN/2025/06/26/AEN20250626008300320_01_i_P2.jpg

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) — South Korea has approved the decommissioning of the country’s first commercial nuclear reactor, the now-defunct Kori-1 unit, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) said Thursday, also marking its first-ever decommissioning of a reactor.

Unit 1 of the Kori nuclear power plant, located in the southeastern city of Busan, was permanently shut down in June 2017 after operating for about 40 years since April 1978.

In May last year, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) began chemical decontamination to remove radioactive materials from the reactor, marking a crucial first step in the decommissioning process.

The KHNP said the successful dismantling of the Kori-1 reactor will be significant for the nuclear and related industries as it will open up new business opportunities in the global reactor decommissioning market.

“The full dismantling of the Kori-1 reactor is expected to take 12 years due to challenges related to the construction of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities,” an NSSC official said.

Excluding Kori-1, South Korea has 26 nuclear reactors. Of these, 20 are currently in operation with a combined capacity of 20,854 megawatts electric (MWe).

Among the remaining six, five are undergoing regulatory maintenance, while the temporarily suspended Kori-2 reactor is awaiting government approval for extended operation after decades of service, the official said.