South Korea and the UK have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the nuclear energy sector by signing nine Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on Nov. 22nd, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The agreement, signed by ROK industry minister Bang Moon-kyu and UK energy security secretary Claire Coutinho, encompasses collaboration in the entire lifecycle of nuclear power plants. They focus on new nuclear power plant construction, marking a critical area of cooperation between the Korea Electric Power Corporation and the UK Nuclear Authority.

In addition to the nuclear sector, the two nations have established a Clean Energy Partnership to expand carbon-neutral energy collaboration. The partnership is a commitment to developing clean energy resources and includes an annual high-level dialogue to enhance cooperation. This initiative aligns with the UK’s goal to increase its nuclear energy contribution to 25% by 2050, up from 15% in 2020, and to expand its offshore wind power capacity, where the UK currently holds the world’s second-largest installed capacity.