Full Breakdown
Chinese State-Owned CGN Operates South Korean Power Plants Amid U.S. Security Concerns
8/23/2026, 2:23:20 AM
Core Event
On July 24, 2026, China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) announced the commercial start-up of a 557 MW LNG combined-cycle plant in the Daesan Industrial Complex, Seosan City, South Chungcheong Province. The facility is about 45 miles west of Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. Army base on the peninsula. CGN also runs the 1,390 MW Yulchon Combined Cycle Plant in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, and three additional sites, giving the firm a total generation capacity of roughly 2.2 GW in South Korea.
Background & Context
CGN, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, was placed on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List on August 15, 2019 after the FBI alleged the company had stolen U.S. nuclear secrets for nearly two decades. The firm is also listed by the U.S. Department of War as a Chinese Military Company. CGN’s Korean subsidiaries—CGN Korea Holdings (established November 11, 1996), CGN Daesan Power (April 8, 2009) and CGN Yulchon Power (July 28, 2009)—are wholly owned by the parent and operate under the leadership of CEO Ni Yanliang and president Song Ji-ho.
Data & Statistics
- Total CGN generation capacity in South Korea: 2.2 GW across five plants.
- Daesan plant output: 557 MW, expected to deliver up to 3.9 TWh of electricity annually to the domestic grid and to nearby petrochemical firms.
- Yulchon plant capacity: 1,390 MW, located within the same industrial zone as Hyundai Steel’s Suncheon factory and pier.
Official Statements & Responses
The FBI has claimed that CGN used joint ventures and other commercial practices to infiltrate the U.S. nuclear technology network and steal dual-use reactor designs. Security analysts cited by the East Asia Research Center warn that CGN’s access to South Korea’s power grid could enable sabotage of power production and distribution, posing a “grave threat” to the security of both the Republic of Korea and U.S. forces stationed there.
