It is the world's second largest fully operational nuclear generating station by total reactor count and the number of currently operational reactors since 2016, after it exceeded in nameplate capacity Canada's Bruce Nuclear Generating Station.

Kori-1 was shut down in June 2017 in advance of decommissioning beginning in 2022 after its spent nuclear fuel is removed.

There was no adverse effect on the plant safety as a result of this event, no radiation exposure to the workers, and no release of radioactive materials to the environment.

[11] On 2 October 2012 at 8:10 a.m., Shin Kori-1 was shut down after a warning signal indicated a malfunction in the control rod system which triggered an investigation [citation needed] to verify the exact cause of the problem.

[12] In June 2013, Kori-2 was shut down, and Kori-1 ordered to remain offline, until safety-related control cabling with forged safety certificates is replaced.

Replacement with U.S. manufactured cable delayed the startup of the plant,[14][15] which eventually entered commercial operation 3 years late.