Location: Nari, Yangnam-myŏn, Kyŏngju, North Kyŏngsang Province, South Korea

Address: 260 Nari, Yangnam-myŏn, Kyŏngju, North Kyŏngsang Province, 780-715, South Korea
  
Telephone Number: +82-54-779-2114

Subordinate to: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (한국수력원자력주)

Size:  700MW(e) pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR)

Primary Function: Production of electricity

Description: Wŏlsŏng-4 is South Korea’s fourth CANDU pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) and 15th nuclear power reactor to be constructed. CANDU reactors are designed by Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited (AECL) and the reactor components are designed by various Canadian companies. CANDU reactors use heavy water as both a moderator and coolant, and natural uranium for fuel. The Wŏlsŏng reactors are CANDU-6 designs with a power output in the 700MW(e) range, which is the most common design sold abroad by AECL. 

Wŏlsŏng-4 was constructed under the third phase of South Korea’s nuclear energy development program to achieve self reliance in nuclear technology. Under this phase, South Korea planned to standardize the design of nuclear power plants and achieve technological self-sufficiency. Although the plan called for the standardization of pressurized light water reactors (PWR), South Korea planned to implement a two reactor policy in order to diversify the country’s sources of nuclear power. Canada provided most of the equipment and services for Wŏlsŏng-4 including the reactor, architect engineering services, design and construction. The Korea Heavy Industries and Construction Company (Hanjung) and General Electric Company (GE) jointly manufactured the turbine generator. Construction for Wŏlsŏng-4 began in 1994 and it entered commercial operation in October 1999. South Korean government and utility officials initially considered ordering more CANDU reactors under a plan to construct two additional units at the Wŏlsŏng site.  However, in late 2000 South Korea decided to stop ordering CANDUs and focus on developing the Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (APR). 

Key sources: Ministry of Science and Technology, <http://www.most.go.kr>; Ministry of Science and Technology, Wŏnjaryŏk Anjŏnbaeksŏ (Seoul: MOST, 2003); Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP),“Han’guk Suryŏg’wŏnjaryŏk (Chu) Wŏlsŏng’wŏnjaryŏk Ponbu,” <http://www.khnp.co.kr/wolsong/sub/greet/history.htm>; Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, <http://www.kins.re.kr>; IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), <http://www.iaea.org/dbpage/>; The Canadian Nuclear FAQ, <http://www.nuclearfaq.ca>; CANDU Owners Group, <http://www/candu.org>; Mark Hibbs, “KEPCO Plans First 1,400-MW PWRS at Shin-Kori, Four Units by 2012,” Nucleonics Week, 5 April 2001, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

	Updated October 2004