The South Korean government has launched the formulation of the 7th Comprehensive Nuclear Energy Promotion Plan, aiming to become a "nuclear powerhouse" through the integration of next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) held a kickoff meeting for the 7th Comprehensive Nuclear Energy Promotion Plan (2027-2031) on Tuesday at H Hotel Sejong City in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, launching a planning committee composed of about 90 experts from related ministries, industry, academia, and research institutions.
Under Article 9 of the Nuclear Energy Promotion Act, the Comprehensive Nuclear Energy Promotion Plan is the top statutory plan in the nuclear sector, established and implemented every five years to ensure stable power supply. As the 6th comprehensive plan concludes this year, the government plans to complete a new blueprint reflecting changes in the global energy market within the second half of the year.
The 7th plan focuses on developing mid- to long-term strategies in response to shifts in the global energy market and the restructuring of the nuclear industry. Nuclear power is drawing renewed attention amid surging electricity demand driven by the recent growth of the AI industry and the rising importance of energy security due to geopolitical instability.
The planning committee is composed of four subcommittees—Hyper-Innovative Growth, Public Safety, Convergence Expansion, and Foundation Strengthening—along with a Policy Communication Committee, which will present specific implementation tasks to foster nuclear power as a future growth engine.
In particular, the Hyper-Innovative Growth subcommittee will pursue public-private mega projects with the goal of securing innovative SMR technology and achieving private sector-led commercialization by 2030, while developing strategies to actively integrate AI technology into SMRs. The aim is to gain a competitive edge in the next-generation nuclear market, where global technology competition is intensifying.
The Public Safety subcommittee will advance the safety technology of operating reactors and broaden their applications through flexible operation and clean hydrogen production. It will also build an integrated data management platform covering everything from reactor design to on-site management and optimize the entire cycle of radioactive waste transport, storage, and disposal to enhance safety.
The Convergence Expansion subcommittee will develop carbon-neutral process technologies using radiation technology and commercialize technologies addressing environmental pollution, super-aging, and food security, mapping out plans to foster market-leading industries. The Foundation Strengthening subcommittee will be responsible for expanding support for basic nuclear research, training specialized personnel, strengthening international cooperation, and overhauling the system to nurture the industrial ecosystem.
The MSIT plans to prepare a draft of the comprehensive plan by the end of August, followed by public hearings and an opinion-gathering process, before finalizing it through deliberation by the Nuclear Energy Promotion Committee at the end of the year.
"The formulation of the 7th Comprehensive Nuclear Energy Promotion Plan will mark a turning point for Korea's nuclear power to move beyond technological independence and lead the global market," said Oh Dae-hyun, Director-General for Future Strategic Technology Policy at the MSIT.
