South Korea pursues nuclear-renewables integration strategy to meet explosive AI infrastructure power demand while reducing grid carbon intensity.
On June 29, the government announced the "three mega projects," including the Honam Semiconductor Cluster and construction of an artificial intelligence data center. This announcement prompted the energy sector to prioritize securing stable power supply for these initiatives. Semiconductor fabs and AI data centers are representative high-energy-consuming facilities operating continuously. Amid the global decarbonization trend, expanding renewable energy sources like solar and wind while ensuring uninterrupted power despite nighttime or weather fluctuations has emerged as a critical challenge for national energy strategy. Experts emphasize that expanding power generation capacity and investing in transmission networks must advance together, as concentrated power demand in specific regions could strain the grid.
This topic was central to the Chosun Ilbo's "2026 Energy Industry Conference," held July 1 at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, under the theme "Survival Strategy for Korea in the Era of Energy Security." With over 200 attendees from government, the National Assembly, the energy industry, and academia, the event underscored that surging power demand, carbon neutrality, and supply chain instability cannot be addressed in isolation. Participants stressed that nuclear power, renewables, liquefied natural gas, and grid infrastructure should be integrated into a unified energy security strategy rather than treated as separate policies.
Attendees included Rep. Lee Jong-bae of the People Power Party; Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyun of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment; Kim Dong-cheol, CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation; Jung Yeon-in, Vice Chairman of Doosan Enerbility; Ryu Yeol, CEO of S-Oil; Kim Jung-su, Vice President of GS Caltex; Kang Chung-sik, Vice President of SK Innovation; Cho Seok-jin, Vice President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power; Sung Hae-je, Vice President of Korea Petroleum Industries Corporation; Hwang Byung-so, CEO of GS E&R; and Hong Joon-ho, publisher of Chosun Ilbo.
In his opening remarks, Rep. Lee Jong-bae stated, "Energy security must start with creating our own energy mix, free from ideological bias." Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyun emphasized, "As we transition to an electrified era, electricity has become a matter of national security itself. Supplying stable, affordable, and clean power 24/7 is key to national competitiveness." Kim Dong-cheol, CEO of Korea Electric Power, added, "The core challenge for AI data centers and the semiconductor industry is stable power supply. We will ensure the timely construction of grid infrastructure essential for national strategic industries."
The first session, "Energy Security and Carbon-Free Energy Strategy," presented specific figures for power demand driven by the Honam Cluster and AI data centers. Choi Sung-min, KAIST professor and head of the Korean Nuclear Society, noted, "The new data centers and semiconductor cluster alone will require around 40 GW of power. To meet 24/7 stable demand, large-scale nuclear reactors and SMRs (small modular reactors) must be secured proactively." He added that while expanding renewables is necessary, industries sensitive to power quality—like semiconductors and data centers—require stable carbon-free baseload power.
Lee Sang-jun, SeoulTech professor, highlighted the need to expand renewables synergistically with nuclear power and secure grid infrastructure to support both. Lee Jae-sik, head of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's grid policy division, stated, "During peak solar generation, we will optimize the grid through output adjustments or energy storage systems (ESS)." This reflects the need to adapt grid management as renewables expand.
Some pointed out that surging power demand extends beyond semiconductors and AI. Kim Sung-jun, head of POSCO's Carbon Neutrality Strategy Office, said, "To compete in hydrogen-based steelmaking, a stable and economical national power infrastructure is essential." Session moderator Yoo Seung-hoon, SeoulTech professor, concluded, "Nuclear, renewables, and grid infrastructure should not be treated separately but designed together as a single energy security strategy."
The second session, "Resource Security and Supply Chain Resilience," argued that renewables and nuclear alone cannot meet soaring power demand. It proposed reclassifying existing energy sources as backup resources rather than simply phasing them out. Even amid carbon neutrality efforts, maintaining supply chains for oil, coal, and gas as safety nets during crises was emphasized.
Shin Hyun-don, Inha University professor, noted, "South Korea's crude oil dependence on the Middle East exceeds 70%," urging long-term diversification of import sources and overseas resource exploration. Baek Cheol-woo, Duksung Women's University professor, suggested, "While phasing out coal, some plants should be retained as backup." Hwang Tae-gyu, head of GS EPS's power policy division, called for recognizing LNG's role as a flexible power source and improving its compensation system. He explained that during energy transitions, distinguishing between energy to reduce and reserves to retain is critical.
Kim Jong-cheol, head of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources' resource industry policy division, pointed out, "Cost-minimization strategies alone are insufficient for crisis response." Session moderator Cho Young-tak, Hanbat University professor, concluded, "Discussions are needed on redesigning existing energy as backup resources for crises. South Korea, with its large manufacturing sector, must also develop carbon-neutral fuels tailored to its industrial structure."