South Korea Breaks Ground On Nuclear Reactor, Defying Global Energy Trends

South Korea just poured concrete for a massive new nuclear reactor, and the rest of the world is watching with raised eyebrows. While other countries pump the brakes on nuclear power, South Korea hit the gas pedal. Hard.

The first safety-related concrete for Shin Hanul Unit 3 went in on May 28, 2025. This isn’t just another construction project. It’s South Korea flipping the bird to global energy trends. Most countries are backing away from nuclear like it’s radioactive. Oh wait, it is.

Here’s the thing: South Korea’s actually serious about this nuclear comeback. They want nuclear to generate at least 30% of their electricity by 2030. Right now, their 26 reactors pump out about a third of the country’s power. By 2036, they’re aiming for 31.7 gigawatts of nuclear capacity. That’s a lot of atoms splitting. The country’s electricity demand is projected to reach 129.3 GW by 2038, making this nuclear expansion more than just ambitious – it’s necessary.

The political drama behind this is almost as explosive as the reactors themselves. From 2017 to 2022, the previous government basically told nuclear power to take a hike. Work on Shin Hanul 3 and 4 was suspended in May 2017 when the government shifted its nuclear policy. Fukushima scared everyone. Then President Yoon Suk-yeol showed up in 2022 and said, “Actually, never mind all that.” Complete 180-degree turn.

And guess what? The people are actually on board. A 2021 survey found 72.1% of South Koreans support nuclear power. That’s not just acceptance – that’s enthusiasm. The government’s throwing money at this too. We’re talking $100 million in financial support for the nuclear industry in 2025 alone. This approach mirrors India’s ambitious nuclear expansion plans which include a massive 100 GW target by 2047.

Samsung, Doosan, Hanwha – the big Korean companies are all getting fat contracts. The country wants to export 10 nuclear plants by 2030. They’re even developing their own small modular reactor by 2035. Because apparently, regular-sized nuclear reactors aren’t enough.

While Europe and America hem and haw about nuclear’s future, South Korea’s already pouring concrete. They’ve got Shin Hanul 4, Saeul 3, and Saeul 4 in the pipeline. That’s 7 gigawatts of new nuclear muscle flexing by the 2030s.

The message is crystal clear: South Korea believes nuclear is the future. Whether they’re right or everyone else is wrong, well, we’ll find out soon enough.