Lee Jae-myung, a leading presidential contender from South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party (DPK), has pledged to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2040 and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. But his silence on nuclear power has drawn criticism from environmental groups.
In response, Lee’s campaign clarified it plans to invest in both nuclear and renewable energy, saying the long-term aim is to gradually reduce reliance on nuclear through social consensus while maintaining its current share in the short term.
“Energy is a matter of reality,” the campaign said. “Stable electricity supply is essential for both economic growth and daily life.”
Reflecting that stance, the Democratic Party has recently engaged with nuclear industry workers and signaled interest in small modular reactors (SMRs), a next-generation nuclear technology — a move that has fueled further concerns among environmental groups.
While coal still accounted for 28.1% of South Korea’s electricity generation in 2024, experts agree its phased elimination is essential for meeting climate goals. That raises a key question: what will replace it?
Renewables currently make up just 10.5% of the energy mix, and solar and wind output remains highly variable. For now, nuclear power remains the most viable alternative — particularly as demand for electricity is expected to rise under EV-focused and other clean-energy policies.
That challenge is amplified by the global race to lead in artificial intelligence (AI), with AI-powered data centers consuming more than triple the electricity of traditional facilities. The United States, United Kingdom, France and Sweden have all approved or are considering new nuclear plants to meet these growing needs.
Scaling back nuclear would undermine South Korea’s competitiveness in the AI sector — a concern reportedly shared by some within the DPK, who say renewables alone cannot meet the anticipated surge in electricity demand.
Lee, who in 2017 as mayor of Seongnam called for a “zero nuclear” policy, shifted to a more moderate “nuclear reduction” stance during his 2022 presidential campaign, vowing to halt construction of new reactors while continuing to operate existing ones.
But his recent pledge to make South Korea one of the world’s top three AI powers appears at odds with that approach. Without a robust nuclear strategy, the goal is unlikely to be achievable.
If Lee is serious about the AI ambition, he must move beyond partisan lines and commit to a pragmatic, science-based energy policy.
