South Korea’s nuclear safety watchdog approves a 10-year operational lifespan extension for Kori units 3 and 4, restarting the long-dormant reactors on the country’s southeastern coast. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) makes the decision after the state-run operator, KHNP, requests a review to restart the units that have passed their original commercial life.
The reactors in question are pressurized water reactors that began commercial operation in the mid-1980s and later stopped generating power after roughly 40 years of use. Outlets also link the decision to prior regulatory steps: the NSSC approved an accident management program earlier in the month outlining preparations to prevent accidents and mitigate fallout. Korea Times notes the decision follows a similar 10-year extension granted for Kori-2 last year, while the Yonhap reports focus on the watch-dog’s approval and present the matter in straightforward dated bulletin form.
With the approval, Kori-3 can operate until September 2034 and Kori-4 until August 2035, according to the reporting provided.
