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-2 is South Korea’s second of four CANDU pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) and twelfth 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-2 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-2 including the reactor and major components of the steam supply system. The Korea Heavy Industries and Construction Company (Hanjung) and General Electric Company (GE) jointly manufactured the turbine generator. Construction for Wŏlsŏng-2 began in 1992 and it entered commercial operation in July 1997.

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>; “Wolsong-2 Reactor Starts Commercial Operation,” Nuclear News, August 1997, p. 31, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; “Kepco Buys Second CANDU for Wolsong Plant Site,” Nuclear News, February 1991, p. 50, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

	Updated October 2004