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South Korea and Sweden Discuss Cooperation on High-Level Waste Disposal and SMR Regulation

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea announced on August 10 that it held a bilateral meeting with the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) in Seoul, during which the two sides exchanged views on topics including high-level radioactive waste management, nuclear safety regulation, and the development of small modular reactors (SMRs). Sweden has accumulated strong technical expertise in the field of radioactive waste management and has developed a relatively mature technical system for high-level radioactive waste disposal. Currently, Sweden has 6 operating nuclear power units and 7 permanently shut down units, 6 of which are in the decommissioning phase. Following Finland, Sweden is constructing the world's second deep geological disposal facility for high-level radioactive waste. The NSSC of South Korea...

2026-08-10

Woori Technology Signs VMI Agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for Nuclear Power Plant Components

Woori Technology announced on the 10th that it has signed a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). Under the agreement, Woori Technology plans to supply certain components for nuclear power plant control and instrumentation as early as next month. Vendor Managed Inventory is an inventory management model in which a supplier pre-stocks critical components based on customer demand forecasts and delivers them quickly upon customer request. The customer pays the corresponding procurement costs only after the components are put into use. This agreement primarily covers long-term inventory management and supply arrangements for components related to nuclear power plant control and instrumentation systems supplied by Woori Technology...

2026-08-10

South Korea to Resume Actinium-225 Production Next Year to Ease Shortage of Raw Materials for Anti-Cancer Radiopharmaceuticals

South Korea's domestic production project for actinium-225 (Ac-225), a radioisotope used in next-generation cancer treatment, is expected to resume next year after being stalled for more than a year. Funding was secured in the first half of this year, and the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) plans to complete facility construction and trial production before launching full-scale production in the second half of next year, aiming to alleviate the raw material shortage facing domestic clinical research and radiopharmaceutical development. KIRAMS is affiliated with the Ministry of Science and ICT. The institute received approval from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in May last year to produce Ac-225 using a cyclotron. The project first entered the review process in 2018 and took seven years to gain approval, with initial production originally planned by the end of last year. However, work on upgrading production facilities and procuring equipment was suspended after approximately 2 billion KRW in budget was not approved during parliamentary review.

2026-08-10

South Korea Advances K-Moonshot Initiative, Nuclear Fusion and SMR Spacecraft Listed as Key Missions

The South Korean government is accelerating the K-Moonshot initiative, seeking to tackle critical technologies that are difficult to break through via traditional research pathways through a national-level R&D organizational approach. Among these, nuclear fusion and small modular reactor (SMR) spacecraft have been included in 12 key missions, alongside new drug development, quantum technology, and artificial intelligence, all under the government's coordinated promotion. On August 10, Vice Minister Goo Hyuk-chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) met with the heads of the 12 mission projects and representatives of related institutions at the K-Moonshot Project Support Office in Sejong City to discuss next-stage implementation arrangements. The meeting focused on detailing...

2026-08-10

South Korea Designates SMR as National Strategic Technology, Tax Incentives to Drive New Investment in Nuclear Supply Chain

The South Korean government's inclusion of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in its national strategic technology support scope signals that its energy and industrial policies are extending from traditional large-scale nuclear power plants to next-generation nuclear technologies. SMRs feature modular manufacturing, relatively shorter construction periods, and higher site flexibility, making them a key direction for South Korea in balancing energy security, low-carbon transition, and advanced manufacturing upgrades. This policy has gained support from South Korea's nuclear industry, with the key being that national strategic technology status typically entails tax credits and other incentives for corporate R&D, equipment investment, and related capital expenditures. For companies involved in nuclear equipment, castings and forgings, control systems, engineering design, and fuel-related businesses...

2026-08-10

KHNP President Visits Kori Nuclear Power Plant, Pledges Stable Power Supply

Amid sustained heat waves driving up electricity demand, Kim Hoi-cheon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), recently conducted an on-site inspection at the Kori Nuclear Power Plant headquarters, focusing on the operational status of power generation facilities and frontline working conditions under high-temperature environments. The visit came as the South Korean government issued extreme heat warnings and strengthened its response posture, reflecting heightened attention to the stability of nuclear power as a baseload source in summer electricity supply. According to KHNP, Kim inspected work areas at the Kori plant that are vulnerable to high temperatures, reviewing employee health conditions, working environments, and the implementation of heat prevention and cooling measures. He also examined the operation of...

2026-08-10

Sea Temperature Approaching Shutdown Threshold, Nuclear Power Belt on South Korea's East Coast Faces Load Reduction Pressure

Climate change is pushing nuclear power plants on South Korea's east coast toward new operational boundaries. South Korean nuclear plants generally rely on seawater as cooling water; after the heat generated by the reactor drives the turbine, seawater is needed to condense the steam back into water. Once the intake water temperature approaches or exceeds the design seawater temperature set by the equipment, heat exchange efficiency declines, affecting the heat dissipation capacity of key safety systems, and the plant must reduce load or even shut down in accordance with safety regulations. The area currently at greatest risk is around Uljin in North Gyeongsang Province. Data from the National Institute of Fisheries Science shows that nearshore surface seawater temperatures along parts of the east coast have approached 30°C, with multiple observation points near Uljin recording approximately 29.6°C to 30.2°C on the afternoon of August 7.

2026-08-10

South Korea Plans to Upgrade National Radiation Monitoring System to Address Impacts of Overseas Nuclear Facility Accidents

South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission is pushing to strengthen the national radiation monitoring system, bringing radioactive contamination of the domestic environment caused by potential overseas nuclear facility accidents into institutionalized regulatory scope. According to partial amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Atomic Energy Safety Act pre-announced on August 7, South Korea will incorporate radioactive contamination surveys into existing radiation environment surveys and environmental radioactivity monitoring and evaluation operations, entrusting the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety with the execution of related survey work. This institutional adjustment is a supporting measure following South Korea's revision of the Atomic Energy Safety Act in February this year, with the relevant law set to take effect on February 20, 2027. The core of the amendment lies in that when overseas...

2026-08-09

Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant launches 24-hour drone monitoring and strengthens no-fly zone publicity

The Hanbit Nuclear Power Headquarters of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) recently conducted a special no-fly zone publicity campaign regarding illegal drone flights around the nuclear power plant. The campaign was held on July 27-28 at Gamame and Gusipo beaches near the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, focusing on educating summer tourists and drone users about flight control regulations around the plant. The publicity was jointly promoted by the Hanbit Nuclear Power Headquarters together with Yeonggwang Police Station, Gochang Police Station, Mokpo Maritime Police Station, Buan Coast Guard Station, volunteer fire brigades, and beach operators. Personnel at the site explained to visitors the drone flight restrictions around the nuclear power plant, consequences of violations, and precautions...

2026-08-08

Radioactivity test results for agricultural and fishery products in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, pass standards in first half of the year

The Chungcheongbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment announced on August 7 that it conducted radioactivity safety testing on agricultural and fishery products sold and used within the province in the first half of this year, and the results showed that all relevant samples met food radioactivity safety standards. The testing covered 119 types of agricultural products and 274 types of fishery products sold at large supermarkets, local food direct-sale stores, or used as ingredients for school meals. Testing items included indicators such as radioactive iodine, radioactive cesium, and tritium. The test results showed that the levels of radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium in the samples did not exceed the permissible limit of 100 Bq/kg for food radioactivity; tritium was not detected in any of the 80 seafood samples. The relevant test results can be found on the Chungcheongbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment website.

2026-08-07

Construction of Proton Therapy Center in Ulsan, South Korea Faces Hurdles: Government Funding Allocation Adjustments Impact Project Progress

The proton therapy center construction project in Ulsan, South Korea, has recently encountered obstacles to progress. The project was once regarded as a key component in improving the regional cancer treatment system in southeastern South Korea, but due to shifts in government medical financial support priorities, the difficulty of securing large-scale national funding independently has increased significantly. According to information from Ulsan City on August 6, Ulsan City completed the feasibility study and basic planning services for the proton therapy center construction in March of last year and began seeking national funding. However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare responded that it would be difficult to provide large-scale project funding to Ulsan City alone. Previously, Ulsan City had planned to establish a proton therapy center to build a system enabling cancer patients to undergo surgery...

2026-08-07

Seoul National University NEXFO Workshop: Exploring Sustainable Solutions for SMR and MMR

On August 7, the Nuclear Policy Center at Seoul National University's Institute for Future Nuclear Energy Policy announced that it will host the Nuclear Energy Sustainability NEXFO Workshop on the afternoon of September 16 at the Seoul National University Global Engineering Education Center. The event, coinciding with the center's 10th anniversary, is themed "Embracing the Era of Full-Scale SMR and MMR Deployment" and will discuss the policy, industrial, and technological conditions for the commercialization of small modular reactors and micro modular reactors. The workshop will first revisit the public discourse framework on nuclear energy sustainability, and analyze global nuclear fuel cycle trends as well as the domestic challenges facing South Korea. As SMRs and MMRs transition from technology demonstration to practical application, nuclear fuel...

2026-08-07

South Korea's Taesung advances order for Unit 2 of US TerraPower SMR, pivoting to new track in nuclear power and gas turbine forgings

South Korean open-die forging company Taesung is accelerating its entry into the small modular reactor (SMR) supply chain. Data shows that Taesung secured its first order in June this year for rotating plug components of the primary equipment for Unit 1 of US-based TerraPower's SMR, and is expected to advance follow-up orders for related components of Unit 2 of the same project in September. The rotating plug is installed on the upper section of the reactor to support nuclear fuel replacement and in-vessel equipment maintenance, requiring high material resistance to high temperatures and radiation, as well as large-scale forging capabilities. This order therefore not only carries revenue significance but also demonstrates the company's technical validation value in the high-end nuclear power forging segment. TerraPower, founded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, is developing...

2026-08-07

KHNP's "Integrated Nuclear Power Plant Maintenance Personnel Qualification System" Receives Official Government Recognition

On August 7, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced that its integrated nuclear power plant maintenance personnel qualification system has officially received government recognition from the Korea Human Resource Development Service for Emerging Industries, an affiliate of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. This recognition signifies that the qualification system, used internally by the company to enhance employee job competencies, has received official confirmation in terms of evaluation standards, operational frameworks, and management mechanisms, providing a more credible institutional foundation for nuclear power plant equipment operation and maintenance capability building. The core of this recognized system lies in integrating the qualification frameworks previously operated separately by various nuclear maintenance partner companies into unified standards. This marks the first time such a standardized model has been established in Korea's nuclear maintenance sector...

2026-08-07

South Korea to Investigate Seawater Radioactivity Levels Along Maritime Transport Routes for Radioactive Waste

The Korea Atomic Energy Environment Corporation (KAEEC) will conduct an investigation this year into seawater radioactivity levels along the maritime transport routes for radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, in order to assess the radiological environmental impact during the transport of radioactive waste to the Gyeongju low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility. According to information released on August 6 by the Korea National Electronic Procurement System, KAEEC recently published a public notice regarding radiation analysis services for seawater samples collected along the maritime transport routes for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Once the contractor is selected, the investigation is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Under the arrangement, KAEEC will conduct three maritime transport operations of radioactive waste this year, one each from the Gori, Hanul, and Hanbit nuclear power plants to the Gyeongju disposal facility...

2026-08-07