Wolsong

Wolsong refers to the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant, a nuclear power facility located in Wolseong-eup, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The plant comprises four CANDU-type heavy-water reactors (Units 1 to 4) with individual electrical outputs of about 600 megawatts, collectively contributing a notable share of the country’s electricity supply.

The reactors at Wolsong use heavy water as a moderator and natural uranium as fuel, characteristic of the CANDU design developed by AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited). The facility is operated by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the state-owned company responsible for much of South Korea’s nuclear generation. The CANDU design allows on-power refueling and has shaped the operational strategy across the Wolsong units.

Construction of the Wolsong site began in the late 1970s, with Unit 1 entering service in the early 1980s and the remaining units following through the 1990s. The plant is part of South Korea’s broader nuclear energy program, which combines several PWR and CANDU reactors to diversify energy sources and support electricity demand.

Safety and regulatory oversight are provided by South Korea’s national authorities, which require routine safety upgrades, inspections, and maintenance as part of the plant’s operating life. The coastal location near the city of Gyeongju informs local emergency planning and environmental monitoring efforts as part of ongoing risk management.

See also: Nuclear power in South Korea, Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant.