A special act and its enforcement decree to support small modular reactors (SMRs) from research and development through demonstration and commercialization will take effect on the 11th. The government plans to establish a development and commercialization framework for SMRs by preparing a basic plan every five years and leveraging a pan-government council, research and development special zones, and enterprises jointly funded by the public and private sectors.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the Special Act on the Promotion and Support of the Development of Small Modular Reactors and its enforcement decree will take effect on the 11th. The special act was enacted in March to support SMR research, development, demonstration, and commercialization.
In the future growth engine Seven SEED projects released on Aug. 12, the government also presented SMRs, along with nuclear fusion and renewable energy, as a core technology in future clean energy. The goal is to commercialize a light-water SMR by 2035 and begin constructing a non-light-water SMR in the 2030s.
The enforcement decree details the specific standards and procedures for establishing the basic plan, operating the pan-government council, public-private cooperation, and designating research and development special zones as stipulated in the special act.
The Ministry of Science and ICT will first establish an SMR system development basic plan every five years and prepare an annual implementation plan based on it. The basic plan will include policy goals and implementation strategies, as well as the nuclear fuel supply chain, public acceptance, training and education for specialized personnel, institutional improvements, technology development related to the supply chain, and the designation and operation of SMR research and development special zones.
The implementation of the basic plan will also be reviewed every five years to prepare complementary measures. The results and supplemental items of the annual implementation plan will be reflected in the following year's plan.
A pan-government SMR System Development Promotion Committee will also be formed. The Minister of Science and ICT will serve as Chairperson, and Vice Minister-level officials from 11 central government agencies—including the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Planning and Budget, and the Ministry of Intellectual Property—and at least 10 civilian members from the private sector will participate.
The committee will discuss technology development and demonstration for various SMRs, including for land-based power generation, ship propulsion, and heat supply, as well as corporate cooperation, special zone development, and institutional improvements. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to complete the formation of civilian members and the operating bylaws within this year and begin formal deliberations.
An institutional basis for private-sector participation has also been prepared. It will be possible to support the establishment of companies jointly funded by private corporations and public institutions, and if such a company submits plans for establishment, operation, and business, the government may support the necessary expense within the budget.
Research cooperatives related to SMRs, in which industry, academia, and research institutes jointly promote technology introduction and utilization, are also eligible for support. The scope of support includes research and development and technology transfer and commercialization, training of specialized personnel, and joint use of facilities and equipment.
Standards have also been set for designating regions where universities, research institutes, and corporations related to SMRs are clustered as SMR system research and development special zones. Eligible regions include those with universities, research institutes, or corporations that have a certain level of personnel and infrastructure and where cooperation systems between those institutions and local governments are in place. The government plans to prepare special-zone development plans and support measures by reflecting opinions from local governments and industry.
To cultivate specialized personnel, criteria and procedures have been established to designate universities, research institutes, and specialized institutions as training institutions. The enforcement decree also provides grounds for activities to secure social acceptance, including information provision, use of news media, and exhibitions, events, and forums.
Linked with the Seven SEED projects, the government plans to begin detailed SMR design in a public-private joint effort starting in 2027. The plan is to operate large facilities and equipment in an integrated manner and use advanced technologies such as digital twins to shorten verification and demonstration periods.
For non-light-water SMRs, the government will pursue nurturing commercialization-focused companies, such as special purpose companies (SPCs) jointly funded by the public and private sectors from the early development stage. Beyond power generation, it will examine the potential use of SMRs for process heat in industrial complexes and in the maritime, defense, and space sectors, and will work with relevant ministries to improve regulatory bottlenecks.
Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, said, "With the implementation of the SMR special act and enforcement decree, we have established an institutional foundation to connect the outcomes of nuclear research and development to demonstration and commercialization," and added, "We will promote technology development and institutional improvements in line with the SMR commercialization goals of the Seven SEED projects."