Nuclear watchdog approves 10-year lifespan extension for Kori units 3, 4

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission was set to decide Tuesday in South Korea whether to allow Kori units 3 and 4 to restart and operate for an additional 10 years. The two 950-megawatt pressurized water reactors have passed their designed 40-year lifespans. If approved, Kori-3 could operate until September 2034 and Kori-4 until August 2035.

Kori-3 was suspended on Sept. 28, 2024, while Kori-4’s operational lifespan expired on Aug. 6, 2025.

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power plans to seek lifespan extensions for nine aging plants.

The commission approved the accident management program for both reactors earlier this month, covering preparations to maintain safe conditions, prevent accidents and mitigate their effects.

The watchdog approved a 10-year lifespan extension for the Kori-2 lightwater reactor last year.

Published Oct 27, 2026 1:57 pm KST

Updated Oct 27, 2026 5:15 pm KST

The Kori nuclear reactor units 3 and 4 on the northeastern coast of Busan / Yonhap

The country's nuclear watchdog decided Tuesday to extend the operational life of two nuclear reactors located on the country's southeastern coast by an additional 10 years.

The approval by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) came four years after the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the state-run power operator, requested the agency review the restart of Kori units 3 and 4.

The two pressurized water reactors of 1,025 megawatts gross capacity had stopped power generation after 40 years of commercial use that began in 1985 and 1986, respectively. The country's nuclear watchdog had approved last year a 10-year extension for the Kori-2 light-water reactor.

The decision also came after the commission approved early this month the accident management program for the two nuclear reactors — a document that outlines preparations, including strategies to maintain safe conditions, to prevent accidents and mitigate any fallout if a nuclear accident occurs.

Accordingly, Kori-3 will be able to operate till September 2034 and Kori-4 will run until August 2035.

韩国核安全委员会原定于周二决定是否允许古里核电站3号和4号机组重启并延长运行10年。这两座950兆瓦的压水反应堆已超过其40年的设计寿命。如果获得批准，古里3号机组可运行至2034年9月，古里4号机组可运行至2035年8月。

Kori-3 于 2024 年 9 月 28 日暂停运行，而 Kori-4 的运行寿命于 2025 年 8 月 6 日到期。

韩国水力发电和核电公司计划寻求延长九座老旧电厂的使用寿命。

本月初，委员会批准了这两个反应堆的事故管理计划，其中包括为维持安全状况、防止事故和减轻事故影响所做的准备工作。

监管机构去年批准了 Kori-2 轻水反应堆 10 年的使用寿命延长。

发布于2026年10月27日下午1:57（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月27日下午5:15（韩国标准时间）

釜山东北海岸古里核电站3号和4号机组/韩联社

该国核能监管机构周二决定将位于该国东南沿海的两座核反应堆的运行寿命延长 10 年。

韩国核安全委员会 (NSSC) 的批准是在韩国国营电力运营商韩国水力核电公司 (KHNP) 请求该机构审查古里核电站 3 号和 4 号机组重启四年后作出的。

这两座总装机容量为1025兆瓦的压水反应堆分别于1985年和1986年开始商业运营，运行40年后已停止发电。该国核监管机构去年批准了古里2号轻水反应堆延期运行10年的计划。

此外，此前委员会于本月初批准了这两个核反应堆的事故管理计划——该文件概述了各项准备工作，包括维持安全状况的策略，以防止事故发生，并在发生核事故时减轻任何后果。

因此，Kori-3 将能够运行到 2034 年 9 月，Kori-4 将能够运行到 2035 年 8 月。