South Korea has shut down two nuclear reactors following discovery that reactor components were provided with false quality certificates, the government said Monday.

The two reactors at the Yeonggwang nuclear power plant in the country's southwest were closed until the end of this year to have their parts replaced, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in a statement.

"We deeply regret that such an incident took place, but again I point out that this has no direct link to the safety of nuclear reactors," Knowledge Economy Minister Hong Suk-Woo told a press conference.

"Comprehensive safety check-ups are necessary at these two reactors where the unqualified parts were used extensively," Hong said.

South Korea operates 23 nuclear reactors, generating about 30 percent of its total electricity. It plans to build additional 16 reactors by 2030.