South Korea Revives 42-Year-Old Nuclear Reactor After 3-Year Freeze

(MENAFN) South Korea brought one of its oldest nuclear reactors back online Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s push to secure long-term energy stability while meeting modern safety benchmarks.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., the state-run operator, confirmed that the Gori-2 reactor had resumed operations following a near three-year shutdown, media reported. The reactor sits within the Gori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan, a southeastern port city that has long served as a cornerstone of the nation’s nuclear energy landscape.

First commissioned in 1983 as South Korea’s third-ever nuclear reactor, Gori-2 played a foundational role in shaping the country’s early embrace of atomic power. Operations were suspended in 2023 upon the expiration of its 40-year operating license, triggering a rigorous review process encompassing safety inspections and infrastructure upgrades mandated under current regulatory frameworks.

Regulators signed off on the restart late last year after the facility satisfied updated safety requirements, clearing the path for its return to the national grid.

The revival arrives as Seoul continues to navigate the delicate balance between energy security and public safety — with nuclear power remaining a central pillar of the country’s electricity generation strategy amid growing demand and shifting global energy dynamics.

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