South Korea’s nuclear energy industry secures ongoing support
Significance. South Korea’s nuclear power export sector stands at a critical juncture. Major candidates in the upcoming presidential race have now publicly committed to support its growth. The industry is poised for significant acceleration regardless of the electoral outcome.
Nuclear energy exports have become a symbol of technological sovereignty, energy diplomacy, and high-value industrial strategy. The political consensus ensures continuity in one of South Korea’s most ambitious industrial export strategies. Recognizing the drivers behind this consensus is essential to understanding areas for future economic and technological cooperation.
Analysis. South Korea has emerged as a competitive nuclear exporter, most notably with the announcement that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) will next week sign a final agreement valued at 26 trillion won (US$18.2 billion) with Elektrarna Dukovany II (EDU II) to build two nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic.
Over the past two decades, Seoul has sought to position itself as a reliable alternative to U.S., French, Russian and Chinese nuclear suppliers. The deal builds on KHNP’s 2009 success with the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates and brings with it similar levels of industry-government cooperation.
The Yoon Suk-yeol administration elevated nuclear energy as a central pillar of its industrial and diplomatic strategy. In April 2024, the government set a goal to win ten new reactor export deals by 2030. This was coupled with state-backed efforts to standardize the APR1400 reactor and deepen strategic cooperation with partner states. Nuclear exports are now a focal point of Korea’s broader techno-industrial push.
As a result of sustained government promotion and successful international deals, nuclear exports have become politically non-controversial. The April 2025 Korea Atomic Industrial Forum highlighted political alignment across presidential hopefuls, including opposition figures and centrist independents, who pledged support for export expansion. This consensus will embolden bureaucrats and industry players to pursue long-term reactor deals without fear of domestic policy reversal.
Export financing and nuclear energy diplomacy will not be constrained by the leadership transition and will benefit from a predictable policy environment. In this climate, Korea is expected to pursue new contracts in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia in the medium-term.
Mainstream media reporting has highlighted the cross-party endorsements and consensus. What remains largely absent is critical scrutiny of underlying risks, such as proliferation concerns, dependency on U.S. export licenses, and long-term waste management.
Importantly, little attention has been given to the potential for the industry to be impacted by broader geopolitical constraints should South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons continue. The media has framed nuclear exports as industrial opportunity, rather than a vector of geopolitical contestation.
The bipartisan consensus around nuclear exports will also reinforce Korea’s engagement in infrastructure diplomacy. Seoul will leverage nuclear deals as part of its broader regional strategies and promote them alongside green and digital infrastructure in trilateral formats with the U.S. and Japan.
Nuclear exports will also play a central role in energy partnerships with Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East—regions actively seeking alternatives to Russian and Chinese suppliers. This trend deepens Korea’s identity as a middle power using high-tech exports to expand its diplomatic footprint. Korean embassies and trade missions will be increasingly tasked with energy diplomacy roles.
Impact. In the immediate term, bipartisan political backing will ensure a smooth presidential transition for the industry. After initial rebranding and/or minor adjustments, support to accelerate the nuclear export strategy will continue, enabling long-term financing, diplomatic packaging, and expanded market penetration across emerging regions.
