Nuclear Society Welcomes Passage of SMR Special Act...A Turning Point for Energy Security

“Enforcement decrees, promotion committee formation, and demonstration roadmap must be expedited”

The Korean Nuclear Society welcomed the passage of the “Special Act on the Promotion and Support for the Development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR Special Act)” by the National Assembly plenary session, calling it “an important turning point to respond to the surge in electricity demand in the AI era and to achieve carbon neutrality.”

A banner reading 'Attracting a Small Modular Reactor' made by local residents is hung around the Gori Nuclear Power Plant in Gijang-gun, Busan. Photo for illustrative purposes. Provided by Yonhap News Agency.

In a press release issued on February 13, the society said, “The bipartisan move by the ruling and opposition parties to establish a legal basis for supporting SMRs is a timely decision to safeguard national competitiveness and energy sovereignty.” It argued that, at a time when major countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France are accelerating SMR development as part of their efforts to secure carbon-free power sources, the enactment of this law could serve as an opportunity for domestic technology to gain global competitiveness.

SMRs are regarded as next-generation nuclear power plants that enhance safety and flexibility compared to existing large-scale nuclear plants by applying passive safety design and modular construction methods. The society stated that “a foothold has been created to extend Korea’s world-class nuclear power technology to SMRs.”

However, the society also called on the government to take follow-up measures. It stressed the need for the prompt revision of subordinate regulations such as enforcement decrees; the formation of the “Committee for the Promotion of Small Modular Reactor System Development” and the establishment of a master plan; and the preparation of specific project plans and budget support for demonstration projects.

Choi Sungmin, President of the Korean Nuclear Society, said, “The academic community will actively work on verifying the safety of SMRs and advancing the technology,” adding, “We hope this special act will become the starting point for Korea’s leap forward as a clean energy powerhouse.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.