Cheonji Nuclear Power Plant (Korean: 천지원자력발전소) is a planned South Korean nuclear power station located in rural Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, approximately 100 km north of the Wolsong Nuclear Power Complex. It is owned and operated by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP).
Overview
Cheonji would be the first plant to implement the uprated APR+ design, with each unit having a gross electrical capacity of 1,500 MWe (pressurized water reactors). The site is designed to accommodate up to four APR+ reactors, though only two units (Cheonji-1 and Cheonji-2) are currently planned. The proposed site occupies land in the villages of Nomul-ri, Maejeong-ri, and Seok-ri in Yeongdeok-eup. Cooling water would be drawn from the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
History
In 2012, Yeongdeok County was selected as a new site for nuclear reactors. An agreement to allow construction of two units was signed in 2014, with construction originally planned to start by 2022. The project was seen as a way to revitalize the local economy in Yeongdeok, whose population had declined from 113,000 in 1974 to 38,000 in 2016, with one-third of residents aged 65 or older.
Following the election of President Moon Jae-in in 2017, who campaigned on an anti-nuclear platform, plans to acquire land and proceed with license applications were put on hold in July 2017. Design work on Cheonji-1/2 was suspended. An independent panel later recommended resuming construction on other reactors (Shin Kori-5/6), but Cheonji remained stalled.
Current Status
As of 2023, the project is listed as planned (not cancelled). Cheonji-1 is scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2028, and Cheonji-2 in 2029. However, the project has faced significant delays due to policy changes. In 2025, reports indicated that two large-scale nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 1.4 GW would be built at the Cheonji site, reviving the project after years of uncertainty.
Reactor Specifications
| Unit | Capacity (net) | Design | Commercial Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheonji-1 | 1,500 MW | APR+ (PWR) | 2028 (planned) |
| Cheonji-2 | 1,500 MW | APR+ (PWR) | 2029 (planned) |
Reactor supplier: KEPCO E&C / Doosan
Turbine generator: Doosan/GE
Significance
Cheonji represents South Korea's next-generation nuclear technology with the APR+ design, an evolution of the earlier APR-1400. The project's fate has been closely tied to South Korea's shifting national energy policy, alternating between nuclear phase-out under the Moon administration and a return to nuclear expansion under subsequent governments.
