South Korea to Build Two Large-Scale Nuclear Reactors by 2038

January 26, 2026 | 06:25 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korea plans to build two large-scale nuclear reactors by 2038, according to the country’s climate minister, who spoke on Monday, January 26, 2026.

At a press conference, as reported by Xinhua and quoted by Antara, South Korea’s Minister of Climate, Energy, and Environment Kim Sung-whan said the government would continue the construction of new nuclear power plants as scheduled under the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand.

The 11th Basic Plan, finalized in February 2025 to outline the national electricity supply plan for the 2024–2038 period, includes the construction of two new large-scale reactors between 2037 and 2038, as well as the country’s first commercial small modular reactor in 2035.

Kim said addressing climate change requires reducing carbon emissions across all sectors. He stressed that cutting dependence on coal and liquefied natural gas is necessary to reduce carbon emissions in the power generation sector.

The country, he said, needs to operate an electricity system centered on renewable energy and nuclear power.

State-owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. plans to soon open bidding for sites for the new reactors, followed by an evaluation and site selection process expected to take five to six months. The company is targeting construction permits in the early 2030s and completion of the reactors in 2037 and 2038.

According to the ministry, the 12th Basic Plan for the 2026–2040 period will project electricity demand driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and electric vehicles, while providing a scientific and objective roadmap for a carbon-neutral energy mix and decentralized power grid infrastructure.

US-South Korea Cooperation on Nuclear-Powered Submarines

In a separate development, South Korea has again expressed its intention to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the submarines would contribute to the alliance with the United States by strengthening Seoul’s deterrence capabilities.

Cho made the remarks during a breakfast meeting with U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, Yonhap News Agency reported, as quoted by Anadolu, on Monday.

Colby is visiting Seoul this week following the release of the Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy, which outlines policy directions for the Korean Peninsula and other alliance-related issues.

“Minister Cho, in particular, recalled that nuclear-powered submarine cooperation will contribute to the alliance (with the US) by strengthening South Korea's deterrence capabilities, calling for the need for concrete implementation steps through working-level talks,” the ministry said in a statement.

Colby praised South Korea’s commitment as a “model ally” in playing a leading role in defending the Korean Peninsula by strengthening its own defense capabilities.

The U.S. Department of Defense will play an active role in ensuring that key agreements reached at the summit level are implemented promptly, he added.

In November last year, South Korea and the United States signed a trade agreement that included US$150 billion in Korean investment in the U.S. shipbuilding sector, and the two countries agreed to “move forward” with the development of nuclear-powered submarines.

Under the agreement, South Korea will build nuclear-powered submarines as part of a new partnership with Washington in shipbuilding, artificial intelligence, and the nuclear industry.

In a related development, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the new U.S. defense strategy emphasizes Seoul’s ability to play a more “leading role” in security on the Korean Peninsula.

The National Defense Strategy states that South Korea is capable of taking “primary” responsibility for deterring North Korea, with U.S. support remaining “critical, but more limited.”

South Korea hosts around 28,500 U.S. troops and last year pledged to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product, a move praised by Colby and other U.S. officials as strengthening Seoul’s role in deterring North Korea.

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