Seoul: Nuclear energy is emerging as a preferred area of cooperation between Korea and the United States, as more nations turn to nuclear power to meet soaring electricity demand in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). At a post-summit briefing in Washington, D.C., National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac announced that the two countries would hold follow-up meetings to expand cooperation on nuclear energy. This was highlighted as a key accomplishment of President Lee Jae Myung's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the allies appear well matched in their capabilities. Korea possesses world-class nuclear technology with a proven record in the peaceful use of nuclear power, while U.S. Big Tech companies, driven by the AI revolution, are scrambling to secure reliable energy sources as data centers consume unprecedented amounts of electricity. Currently, nuclear power accounts for more than 30 percent of Korea's electricity supply, illustrating the country's technological prowess and successful export of expertise.
In contrast, the U.S. has seen its nuclear development lag since the 1979 Three Mile Island accident. However, globally, nuclear power is experiencing renewed attention as countries face looming electricity shortages in the AI era. The International Energy Agency projects that electricity demand from data centers worldwide will more than double by 2030.
This nuclear renaissance presents an opportunity for Korea to expand its role as a global leader in nuclear energy. However, one significant obstacle threatens the Korea-U.S. technology partnership: partisan politics at home. Nuclear energy exports have traditionally been driven by conservative administrations in Korea, while liberal governments have favored renewable energy.
Beyond political divides, Korea also faces the challenge of handling its spent nuclear fuel, with most storage pools projected to reach full capacity by 2030. Seoul has sought U.S. approval to reprocess spent fuel, but Washington has resisted, citing proliferation risks. During the recent summit, President Trump reiterated the U.S. stance on nonproliferation.
As storage capacity dwindles, the urgency to address this issue grows. President Lee will need to engage in careful summit diplomacy to persuade President Trump to reconsider the U.S. position. The future of the Korea-U.S. partnership in nuclear energy will depend on building trust between the two nations.