Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Approves Accident Management Plans for Kori Units 3-4, Hanbit Units 1-2... First Hurdle Cleared for Continued Operation

Tabled for the third time; approved by vote
Continued-operation review for Kori Units 3 and 4 also underway

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission's 16th meeting of 2026 is underway on the 15th. Nuclear Safety and Security Commission

On October 15, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission approved accident management plans and proposed amendments to operating licenses for Units 3 and 4 of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Gijang, Busan, and Units 1 and 2 of the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province.

Although an accident management plan is legally a separate procedure from a license for continued operation, it sets out how an operator would respond to an accident at a nuclear power plant. As such, it serves as a preliminary safety review ahead of a continued-operation license.

That day, the Commission also put the proposed continued-operation licenses for Kori Units 3 and 4 on its agenda. The proposed continued-operation licenses for Hanbit Units 1 and 2 are scheduled to be submitted in the first half of 2027.

At its 16th meeting of 2026, the Commission put to a vote and deliberated on and adopted the accident management plans and proposed operating-license amendments for Kori Units 3 and 4 and Hanbit Units 1 and 2, submitted by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). The Commission had placed the accident management plans on the agenda on September 11 and September 30, 2026, but, having failed to reach an agreement, resubmitted them that day.

An accident management plan sets out the scope of accident management, relevant equipment, management strategies, and training plans. In June 2019, KHNP submitted accident management plans for 28 nuclear reactors, including Kori Units 3 and 4 and Hanbit Units 1 and 2.

The accident management plans for Kori Units 3 and 4 and Hanbit Units 1 and 2 reviewed that day had undergone a safety review by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS).

KINS said that, through questions and answers, on-site inspections, and other procedures, it had confirmed that the accident management capabilities of the plants—including their accident management strategies and implementation systems—met the licensing criteria.

The Nuclear Safety Expert Commission also confirmed that KINS's review results were appropriate through six preliminary reviews conducted over approximately nine months.

Based on these review results, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said that day that it had confirmed the accident management plans for Kori Units 3 and 4 and Hanbit Units 1 and 2 met the criteria set out in Article 21, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 6 of the Nuclear Safety Act.

The Commission also approved the proposed operational changes submitted by KHNP to implement the accident management plans. Accordingly, KHNP will install new external injection paths, power supply equipment, and air supply paths, and replace water-level gauges, as required to introduce equipment under the Multi-barrier Accident Coping Strategy (MACST).

Kori Units 3 and 4 began commercial operation in September 1985 and April 1986, respectively, and their design lifetimes expired in September 2024 and August 2025, respectively. Hanbit Units 1 and 2 began commercial operation in August 1986 and June 1987, respectively. Their design lifetimes expired in December 2025 and September 2026, respectively, and they were shut down.

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