Korea to launch 3-month public deliberation on nuclear power's role
The Korean government, through the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, reported a plan to the Cabinet Meeting on September 22, 2026, to initiate a three-month public deliberation process on the role of nuclear power.
Our take
What does Korea's nuclear deliberation mean for its power mix and flexibility needs?
Korea's nuclear deliberation keeps the 2026-2040 power mix, and with it the flexibility the 12th Basic Plan will call for, open until the roughly three-month deliberation that began on 22 September ends.
Nuclear's role is being weighed together with renewable expansion, coal reduction and grid conditions, so the deliberation can shift renewable volumes as well as nuclear ones. What decides it is the committee's recommendation and the ministry's subsequent review of supply and grid conditions.
What the source says
- The public deliberation on nuclear power will be promoted for approximately three months starting from September 22, 2026.
- The 'Nuclear Power Public Deliberation Committee for the Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand' will be formed with up to 11 members, including a neutral chairperson.
- A separate Expert Committee will be constituted to provide specialized information to the Citizen Participation Group during the deliberation process.
- Public opinion will be collected through deliberative discussions by a Citizen Participation Group, public forums with experts, and online public opinion gathering.
- The deliberation aims to move beyond a simple pro/con debate on new nuclear plant construction, focusing instead on nuclear power's role and appropriate level among various power sources to meet future electricity demand.
- Kim Seong-hwan Minister Kim Seong-hwan stated that the 12th Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand (2026-2040) is significant as it is the first plan established since the launch of the current government.
- The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment previously held an Electricity Nation Forum and an Electricity Demand Forum on August 20, 2026, a Renewable Energy Supply Outlook Forum on August 26, 2026, and a forum on the Plan for Early Retirement of Coal Power by 2040 on September 18, 2026.
For investors — Storage and VPP investors should treat the 12th Basic Plan's flexibility volumes as open until the deliberation ends and not underwrite projects on an assumed nuclear share.
Solar and wind developers should read the committee's recommendation alongside the ministry's August renewable supply outlook, since renewable volumes are being set in the same process.
Watch: Conclusion and recommendations of the 'Nuclear Power Public Deliberation Committee' to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment.
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