South Korea’s Moon backs nuclear power

Outgoing president reverses anti-nuclear stance amid supply concerns following invasion of Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine looks to have revived near-term prospects for nuclear power in South Korea after outgoing president Moon Jae-in abruptly reversed his longstanding anti-nuclear stance. Moon said in a government policy meeting last Friday—the day after the Russian military attacked Ukraine—that nuclear power should be utilised sufficiently as one of South Korea’s main sources of electricity for the next six decades, contradicting his longstanding anti-nuclear stance days before the presidential election next Wednesday. Moon also urged concerns over four nuclear reactors—construction of which has been partially delayed by safety regulations and other issues—to be addressed so that