Korea launches nuclear power panel to guide 2026-2040 energy plan

South Korea's environment ministry on Friday launched a public deliberation committee that will help shape the role of nuclear power in the country's next long-term electricity supply plan, appointing nine members.

The committee is chaired by Eun Jae-ho, an adjunct professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and includes eight other members recommended by organizations in the humanities and social sciences, science and technology, survey and statistics, conflict management and energy sectors. The ministry said all were chosen as neutral figures without a stake in nuclear power.

Nuclear specialists will sit on a separate expert committee to supply technical information on nuclear power and electricity supply for the deliberation.

The deliberation is intended to collect public views on nuclear power's role before the 12th Electricity Supply and Demand Basic Plan, covering 2026 to 2040, is drawn up. Rather than a simple yes-or-no question on building new nuclear plants, the discussion will treat nuclear power as one option among several for meeting future demand.

Over about three months, the committee will assemble a representative citizens' panel, produce study and deliberation materials, and gather opinion through discussion sessions, public debates and online channels before delivering its conclusions. The ministry will then combine the outcome with its own technical review of power supply and grid operations to establish the 12th plan.

At the ceremony, Minister Kim Sung-hwan said the government would actively support the committee's independent work, asking members to manage the process fairly so that citizens can deliberate with sufficient information on the various factors in energy supply, including carbon neutrality, economic feasibility and safety. Kim also said the 12th electricity plan is the first such blueprint drawn up since the launch of the people-sovereignty government, and that the deliberation would let the government hear a wide range of views on nuclear power's role and reflect the results faithfully in energy policy.