"SMR Development to Accelerate"... What Is in the Amended Nuclear Safety Act?

Nuclear Safety Act Amendment Passed, Including "Preliminary Review System"

Easing Regulatory Uncertainties for SMR Development

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting and Emergency Economic Inspection meeting held at the Blue House on May 12, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced that an amendment to the Nuclear Safety Act (hereafter, the Act), which focuses on proactive licensing preparations for new reactors such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and the rationalization of safety regulations at nuclear fuel material sites, was deliberated and approved at the Cabinet Meeting on May 12. The amended Act is scheduled to be promulgated on May 19.

The most notable aspect of this amendment is the institutionalization of the "preliminary review system" for new reactors (new Article 100-2). The preliminary review system allows developers to request a prior review of the reactor design under development by the regulatory authority even before applying for licenses such as construction permits.

SMR developers have actively called for the domestic adoption of the preliminary review system, which is operated in major nuclear power countries such as the United States and Canada, in order to resolve regulatory uncertainties for new reactors and accelerate the licensing process.

With the enactment of this system, developers will be able to officially receive preliminary reviews for a variety of SMR designs under development, while regulatory authorities will be able to adequately prepare for safety assessments.

In addition, the amended Act strengthens the safety of radiation workers by legally stipulating the obligation to appoint a safety manager (new Article 46-2). Until now, the appointment of safety managers by nuclear fuel material users was only enforced through administrative guidance without a legal basis.

Furthermore, when applying for permits such as the use of nuclear fuel materials, the application documents required by Prime Ministerial Decree will be consolidated into the "Nuclear Fuel Material Safety Report" (amended Article 45). The amendment also introduces incentives whereby businesses with outstanding safety management may be exempted from regular inspections for that year (new proviso to Article 47).

Additionally, the amendment specifies in the law the upper limit of administrative fines under the Act—currently 30 million won—by subdividing it into five tiers.

The preliminary review system will be implemented first, starting in November 2026, while the exemption from regular inspections and the revised administrative fine regulations will take effect from January 1, 2027. However, the preparation and submission of the Nuclear Fuel Material Safety Report, including the appointment of safety managers for existing licensed nuclear fuel material users, must be completed by December 31, 2027.

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