The Nuclear Safety And Security Commission has drafted a budget of 292.6 billion won for 2026, an increase of 5.7% (15.7 billion won) from this year. The plan focuses on significant investments in enhancing nuclear safety and preventing radiation disasters. The growth rate is slightly lower than this year's (6.1%).
According to the commission on the 4th, this budget focuses on investments in the safety inspection of currently operational nuclear power plants, expanding routine inspections, and strengthening technical capabilities in nuclear safety regulation through research and development. Nuclear safety research and development has increased by 17%, while the reinforcement of nuclear power plant safety inspections has risen by 1-2%.
First, 63 billion won has been allocated for expanding safety inspections of the 26 operational nuclear power plants, 4 under construction, and 2 permanently shut down. The policy is to extend inspections, previously conducted only during maintenance periods, to all nuclear power plants. For securing regulatory technical capabilities, 119.1 billion won will be invested.
19 billion won has been allocated for the construction of the Hanbit District Command Center, which is under construction for large-scale radiation disaster response. Following the Uljin Command Center in 2022 and the Hanul Command Center in March, the Hanbit District Command Center, located 31 kilometers from the Hanbit nuclear power plant, will enable swift management of incidents and protection of residents in case of radiation-related accidents.
Efforts to enhance the transmission and communication of nuclear safety information will also be strengthened. 2 billion won will be invested to establish an offline information sharing center for residents in areas surrounding nuclear power plants, aiming to increase public trust through face-to-face communication and scientific explanations.
34.4 billion won has been allocated to monitor suspected radioactive materials, including items purchased directly from overseas. By operating surveillance systems at airports and ports, the monitoring rate will increase from 94.46% this year to 94.49% in 2026, with a particular aim to raise the monitoring rate of overseas purchasing items from 72% to around 80%.
However, 13 billion won has been allocated for the development of the innovative small modular reactor (i-SMR), a 16% decrease from this year. The government is pursuing a two-track strategy of collaborating with the U.S. in the overseas large nuclear power market while exporting i-SMRs in the SMR market.
Recently, an unfair contract controversy arose in the process of securing projects for small modular reactors in the Czech Republic. It has been reported that the contract signed by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power with Westinghouse includes provisions that require verification from Westinghouse every time an SMR is exported or the payment of royalties worth hundreds of millions of dollars over a long period.
Chairperson Choi Won-ho noted, "The 2026 budget is a result of focused investments in projects aimed at enhancing public safety," and stated, "Once the execution begins, we will be able to protect the public from radiation in a more systematic way." The 2026 budget will be finalized after review and approval by the National Assembly.