"The small modular reactor (SMR) industry is a key field that will lead to a stable power supply for future generations and the achievement of carbon neutrality. We will be a strong partner so that South Gyeongsang Province can become a global SMR hub." (Governor Park Wan-su of South Gyeongsang Province)
"Energy is the most important thing. We need to look at why European manufacturing declined. We will create a special SMR law and do our best to support the industry's development." (Rep. Choi Hyeong-du of the People Power Party)
The 2025 South Gyeongsang SMR International Conference, held in Changwon on the 28th, closed successfully. The event was hosted by South Gyeongsang Province and organized by the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF), the Korean Nuclear Society, and Gyeongnam Technopark. About 450 participants attended, including nuclear power corporations, research institutions, government official, and international organizations from around the world.
This year's event focused on highlighting SMRs, which are drawing attention as an alternative for the future energy transition, and the characteristics of South Gyeongsang as a nuclear power manufacturing hub. Representatives from each institution shared the status of technology development in the next-generation SMR industry and discussed cooperation plans for manufacturing innovation.
An SMR refers to a small nuclear power plant with an electric output of 300 megawatts (MW) or less. Compared with existing large nuclear plants (1,000 to 1,500 MW), the output is lower, and unlike large plants, it does not need to draw in cooling water from the sea, making site selection relatively flexible.
This year's event was attended by government official from the states of Utah and Maryland, who presented U.S. policies related to SMRs. U.S. government official promised to actively help Korean corporations enter the U.S. The event concluded with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among South Gyeongsang Province, Denmark's SaltPower Energy, and Korea's PK Valve & Engineering for cooperation in SMR manufacturing and design.
A South Gyeongsang Province official said, "We plan to gradually expand cooperation between mid-sized and small nuclear power corporations and global SMRs. We will lay the groundwork for entering the global nuclear market."