South Korea’s AI boom could need 20 new nuclear reactors’ worth of power

South Korea’s AI expansion and accelerated semiconductor fab construction will raise electricity demand by 25-30 GW, equivalent to about 20 APR1400 reactors, pushing 2040 peak forecasts to 158-165 GW. The government’s revised roadmap keeps nuclear as a core mix component. Industry attributes roughly 24-25 GW to chip plants and 12 GW to AI data centres. Nationwide public support for more nuclear is strong, though local opposition remains at sites like Ulsan.