Nuclear watchdog set to decide whether to extend life span of Kori-2 nuclear reactor

The nuclear watchdog was set to decide Thursday whether to extend the lifespan of the 42-year-old Kori-2 nuclear reactor for an additional 10 years. At its meeting, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) will review a request from the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), the state-run power operator, to restart and operate the reactor past its initial 40-year period. This marks the first of 10 life extension requests by the KHNP for its aging reactors and is widely expected to serve as a barometer for the fate of the other nine reactors. The 650-megawatt Kori-2 lightwater reactor on Korea's southeast coast started commercial operation in April 1983. It is the country's oldest active reactor, aside from the Kori-1 and Wolsong-1 reactors, which have been permanently shut down. The Kori-2 has been offline since April 2023, when its initial 40-year operating license expired. If approved, the reactor will operate until April 2033. It would also become the first nuclear facility in Korea to receive a lifespan extension since 2015, when the Wolsong-1 reactor was allowed to resume