KHNP President Visits Kori Nuclear Power Plant, Pledges Stable Power Supply

Amid sustained heat waves driving up electricity demand, Kim Hoi-cheon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), recently conducted an on-site inspection at the Kori Nuclear Power Plant headquarters, focusing on the operational status of power generation facilities and frontline working conditions under high-temperature environments. The visit came as the South Korean government issued extreme heat warnings and strengthened its response posture, reflecting heightened attention to the stability of nuclear power as a baseload source in summer electricity supply.

According to KHNP, Kim inspected work areas at the Kori plant that are vulnerable to high temperatures, reviewing employee health conditions, working environments, and the implementation of heat prevention and cooling measures. He also examined the operation of heat-relief rest areas located in public rest facilities and listened to feedback from on-site workers to discuss more practical support measures.

Beyond occupational safety, the stable operation of power generation facilities was also a key focus of the inspection. Kim received briefings on unit operating status and response measures related to rising seawater temperatures, and instructed relevant departments to strengthen management and proactively address risks to ensure power production remains unaffected by high-temperature weather and external environmental changes. He also expressed appreciation to shift workers who remained at their posts, thanking them for maintaining power supply amid the extreme heat.

KHNP has voluntarily extended its intensive management period for employee health and safety to August 31, exceeding the government-designated industrial safety and health intensive period set from July 6 to August 1. The company plans to increase inspection frequency during peak heat hours and conduct focused monitoring of employees more susceptible to heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke, in order to reduce the risk of safety incidents.

Kim stated that creating a safe working environment for employees under extreme heat is of paramount importance, and that the company will protect employee health and safety through proactive, field-oriented heat wave response measures while making every effort to ensure stable power supply to the public. This inspection also reflects that, amid the convergence of climate anomalies and peak electricity demand, energy companies must not only ensure continuous equipment operation but also integrate frontline occupational protection into the power supply assurance system.