As countries across Eastern Europe and Africa accelerate plans to expand nuclear energy, South Korea is moving aggressively to position itself as a major exporter of reactor construction and nuclear infrastructure.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, the company that operates most of South Korea’s nuclear reactors, this week hosted energy officials and nuclear industry representatives from Bulgaria, Turkey, Poland and South Africa at the Saeul Nuclear Power Plant complex in southeastern South Korea.
The visit was organized alongside a World Bank-backed nuclear energy forum attended by governments exploring new reactor construction and small modular reactor programs. Officials participating in the tour examined South Korea’s reactor construction systems, operational management and nuclear engineering capabilities as countries search for reliable long-term energy sources amid rising electricity demand and decarbonization pressure.
The event underscored South Korea’s growing role in the global nuclear industry at a time when many Western countries are struggling to build reactors on schedule and within budget.
While American companies remain leaders in reactor technology, South Korean firms have developed a reputation for completing large nuclear projects more quickly and at lower cost than many competitors in Europe and North America. That combination has increasingly turned South Korea into an important partner for U.S.-backed nuclear projects overseas.
One of the most closely watched examples is Bulgaria’s Kozloduy Units 7 and 8 project. Hyundai Engineering & Construction is working with Westinghouse Electric Company on the project, combining American reactor technology with South Korean construction and engineering expertise.
Bulgarian officials attending the forum outlined engineering and procurement plans for the project while stressing the importance of controlling construction costs and securing stable industrial partnerships. Bulgaria is aiming to begin commercial reactor operations in the 2030s.
South Korea has also expanded its nuclear outreach into Africa. Earlier this year, KHNP co-hosted a nuclear energy conference in Kenya alongside the U.S. State Department as African governments increasingly examine small modular reactors and other nuclear technologies to address chronic electricity shortages and rising industrial demand.
The growing international interest in South Korean nuclear companies reflects broader changes in the global energy market. As electricity consumption rises from artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and electrification policies, governments are revisiting nuclear power as a stable alternative to fossil fuels.
For South Korea, the strategy goes beyond simply exporting reactors. Seoul is increasingly positioning its nuclear industry as a long-term partner capable of providing engineering, operator training, maintenance support and large-scale project management for countries building nuclear programs from the ground up.
