In brief
South Korea will roll out a preliminary review system for small modular reactors (SMRs) later this month, aimed at streamlining safety and design verification before formal licensing. The NSSC has attracted interest from more than a dozen domestic and international developers, including BEES Inc., TerraPower and Saltfoss Energy. The move is part of a broader 2030 roadmap to overhaul nuclear safety standards and promote SMR deployment and export.
South Korea is ready to launch a new preliminary review system for small modular reactors (SMRs) this month, a move that is expected to streamline safety and design verification before formal licensing.
The nuclear watchdog, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), announced the initiative on November 2, 2026, as part of a broader strategy to support domestic SMR deployment and boost Korea’s nuclear export prospects. According to Choi Won‑ho, the head of the NSSC, the new system will allow developers to undergo safety and design verifications while the full licensing process is still underway.
SMRs have emerged as an important, carbon‑free energy source in the era of artificial intelligence, where the explosive growth of data centers requires an unprecedented amount of stable power.
System design and international alignment
The preliminary review system that Korea plans to roll out has already been used by the United States and Canada. By adopting a proven framework, the NSSC aims to reduce regulatory uncertainties for companies and enable earlier engagement with new technologies from a regulatory perspective.
Choi explained that the NSSC is actively participating in global projects on SMR regulations, including those led by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The commission is also in discussions with countries such as the United States and Canada, which already have experience in authorizing such reactors.
"It's important to ensure international consistency in our SMR regulations," said Choi Won‑ho.
Developer interest and deployment outlook
With less than a month to go before the system takes effect, around ten companies—both domestic and foreign—have expressed their intent to apply. Choi noted that a few developers said they would apply as soon as the preliminary review system is launched, including BEES Inc. from Korea, TerraPower from the United States, and Saltfoss Energy from Denmark.
In February, South Korea announced a roadmap to establish a regulatory framework for SMRs, with the NSSC planning to overhaul existing safety standards in phases by 2030 to include nuclear reactors of various designs and purposes. The new review system is a key first step in that phased plan.
By speeding up the early safety and design verification stage, the system is intended to make it easier for developers to navigate the regulatory process and to bring SMRs to market faster. This, in turn, could help Korea position itself as a major player in the growing global SMR market, where low‑carbon industrial power and data‑center cooling are in high demand.
Choi emphasized that the system could reduce uncertainties for companies while also allowing institutions to understand new technologies from a regulatory perspective earlier on. "The system can ease uncertainties surrounding regulatory reviews for companies," he said.
As the world looks for clean, reliable power sources to meet burgeoning data demands and carbon‑neutral goals, Korea’s move to launch the SMR review system signals its commitment to pioneering sustainable nuclear technologies and strengthening international regulatory coherence.
