8 Out of 10 Koreans Say "New Nuclear Plants Needed... Should Be Reflected in the 12th Basic Electricity Plan"

Korea Energy Information Culture Agency Public Survey Results

"Continued Operation Is Needed" 86.5%

"Nuclear Safety" Considered Most Important in Nuclear Policy

Only 40% Say They "Know About SMRs"

A recent survey found that 8 out of 10 Koreans support the construction of new nuclear power plants. A similar proportion also responded that the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, scheduled to be established this year, should include new nuclear power plants.

According to the "2026 Q2 Energy Public Perception Survey" commissioned by the Korea Energy Information Culture Agency and conducted by Korea Research International, 79.2% of respondents said new nuclear power plants are needed, while 82.9% stated that the new electricity plan should reflect this.

The survey was conducted via Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) among 2,000 adults aged 18 and older across the country over four days from June 12 to June 15.

Support for domestic nuclear power generation stood at 91.4%, with 86.5% of respondents saying continued operation is necessary. Additionally, 71.2% agreed that the proportion of nuclear energy should be expanded in the future.

When asked what should be prioritized most in nuclear policy decisions, "safety of nuclear power plants" ranked highest at 42.2%, far exceeding electricity supply stability (17.7%), impact on environment and ecosystems (14.5%), and national or industrial competitiveness (12.2%). The Korea Energy Information Culture Agency explained, "The survey shows that the public perceives the safety of nuclear plants as the highest priority in nuclear policy."

Ensuring nuclear safety was also identified as the most urgent issue to address in Korea’s nuclear sector, with 28.3% choosing it. This was followed by spent nuclear fuel management (17.9%), impact on environment and ecosystems (12.6%), and small modular reactor (SMR) development (11.1%).

Interest in developing and utilizing SMRs is high, with 86.8% of respondents saying it is necessary, indicating strong public support for next-generation nuclear technology. However, only 39.7% said they were aware of SMRs, suggesting that despite the perceived need, actual public understanding remains relatively low.

For the construction of a nuclear power plant near one’s place of residence or work, 56.3% expressed support, exceeding half of the respondents. "Strengthening nuclear plant safety" was ranked as the most important measure to increase public acceptance of nuclear power plants (48.3%), followed by transparent information disclosure and communication (18.1%), local job creation and economic revitalization (14.0%), and expansion of support for local residents (11.0%).

The Korea Energy Information Culture Agency analyzed the results, stating, "As public acceptance for nuclear plant locations rises, it is evident that ensuring safety, transparent information sharing, and communication are seen as core elements in enhancing this acceptance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.