Three domestic and foreign companies are considering plans to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in Korea. As SMR development takes shape alongside the government's three mega-projects that require vast amounts of electricity, the regulator is also gearing up.
Chang In-sook, head of the small modular reactor safety division at the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), said at a press briefing in Seoul on the 15th that "there are about three companies that have expressed intent to apply" regarding the SMR pre-review system.
Unlike the existing method of applying for formal licensing after design completion, the pre-review system allows the regulator to preemptively examine part of the design and safety assessment methods at the development stage. It will take effect this November. The system is expected to resolve regulatory uncertainty for new reactors.
The companies considering applying for the pre-review are reportedly Korea's Bhiz, U.S.-based TerraPower, and Denmark's Saltfoss Energy. The foreign companies are said to be pursuing consortiums with large Korean companies. No official applications have yet been received, and the NSSC is discussing the scope, schedule, and operating principles of the review with the companies.
The NSSC plans to institutionalize safety regulations for SMRs, prompted by the push for the three mega-projects in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, and physical AI. Korea's current nuclear regulatory framework is built around large light-water reactors, making it difficult to apply to next-generation reactors that can also be installed on ships and elsewhere. However, Chang explained that "the innovative SMR (i-SMR) currently included in the Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand is a light-water reactor, so licensing review is possible even under the current regulatory framework."
Under the SMR regulatory framework roadmap announced in February this year, the NSSC plans to amend the Nuclear Safety Act and the Radiation Disaster Prevention Act starting in 2028 and establish separate technical standards suited to the unique design characteristics of SMRs. The goal is to build a licensing system covering various purposes and designs by 2030. Chang explained that "SMRs are not a fixed category but a general term for small, innovative reactors," adding that the NSSC will finalize amendments to the Nuclear Safety Act in 2028 and begin the process of gathering public opinion.
NSSC Chairman Choi Won-ho stressed that "the need for nuclear power is growing due to expanded semiconductor investment and other factors," emphasizing that the commission is steadily pursuing the establishment of an SMR regulatory framework, which is seen as capable of changing the paradigm of nuclear power use. He added, "We will thoroughly review safety based on science, technology, and legislation, and transparently inform the public."
