The Necessity and Strategy of Introducing Low-Enriched Uranium Facilities for Peaceful Purposes in South Korea

This study examines why South Korea should review the introduction of a peaceful-purpose low-enriched uranium facility from the perspective of energy security, industrial competitiveness, and non-proliferation governance. South Korea still imports roughly 94 percent of its primary energy, while domestic electricity demand is projected to increase from 557.1 TWh in 2024 to 735.1 TWh in 2038 and summer peak demand from 104.2 GW to 145.6 GW. The proportion of renewable energy and nuclear power is increasing to supply electricity demand and carbon neutrality, and energy security has become more important due to the Ukraine-Russia war and the U.S.-Iran war. As a result, smooth supply of nuclear fuel is emerging as a key challenge as 26 nuclear power plants are currently in operation and the number of nuclear power plants is expanding in the future. However, the global uranium and enrichment market is concentrated in a few states and firms, and the spot price of enrichment services rose from about 50 USD/SWU in 2022 to around 200 USD/SWU in 2025. These conditions re-recognize the stability of the nuclear fuel supply chain as a key variable of nuclear power plant policy. This paper examines the necessity of securing low-enrichment capacity in Korea in terms of mitigating supply shock, stabilizing long-term fuel costs, and linking the deployment of next-generation reactors including SMRs, and identifying various measures to realize it as a strategic option in stages. Such a policy, however, is normatively and diplomatically sustainable only when pursued under strict compliance with the NPT, full IAEA safeguards, transparent material accountancy, and close cooperation with the United States and other partners.