"K-Nuclear Power to Become a Global Production Hub"... Government Hosts IAEA Nuclear Power Ministerial Conference in South Korea for First Time

Bae Kyunghoon: "Bringing Public and Private Sectors Together to Accelerate SMR Development and Demonstration"

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power opened at 10 a.m. on the 27th at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. Bae Kyunghoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, delivers the opening remarks. Photo provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

As electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced industries rises, increasing the importance of nuclear power, South Korea has unveiled a vision to become a global production hub by leveraging its manufacturing and construction capabilities.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Energy Ministerial Conference opened at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. The first conference of its kind to be held in South Korea will run through Oct. 29, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyunghoon chairing the discussions.

"Building on the special act on small modular reactors (SMRs) and the 'Seven Seed Projects,' we will bring together the capabilities of the public and private sectors to advance the safe development and demonstration of SMRs and open a new future for K-nuclear," Bae said. "By connecting South Korea's manufacturing and construction capabilities with global demand for nuclear power, we will become a global production hub and grow alongside the international community as a model nuclear power country that upholds safety and trust."

The IAEA Nuclear Energy Ministerial Conference is a leading high-level policy forum for discussing the peaceful use of nuclear energy and future policy directions, and is generally held every four years. First held in Paris, France, in 2005, the conference has since been hosted by China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. This year marks its sixth edition and the first to be held in South Korea. More than 800 people are attending, including ministerial-level representatives from IAEA member states, representatives of governments from 60 member states and eight international organizations, and some 85 domestic and international companies.

Since operating its first research reactor in 1962, South Korea has achieved technological self-reliance and exported nuclear power plants and research reactors, growing from a country that adopted nuclear power into one that shares its technology and experience.

In his opening remarks, Bae stressed the need to pool countries' technology and experience under the principles of safety, nuclear security and nuclear nonproliferation, and to cooperate so that the benefits of nuclear energy reach more countries and people. As host, South Korea is determined to use the conference to expand practical cooperation among countries.

In his subsequent keynote address, Bae outlined three key policy priorities for South Korea: strengthening trust through safety and transparency, safely developing and demonstrating SMRs, and becoming a global production hub.

Yonhap News Agency

First, he emphasized that ensuring safety and communicating transparently are fundamental responsibilities in the use of nuclear energy. He said South Korea would raise safety standards through scientific reviews and inspections under an independent regulatory framework, drawing on recommendations from IAEA international reviews, and build trust among the public and the international community by disclosing operational and safety information and communicating transparently.

South Korea also plans to accelerate SMR development and demonstration by bringing together public- and private-sector capabilities on the basis of trust. While respecting the independence of regulatory bodies, it will strengthen the foundations for regulatory research and verification, and pursue technological development tailored to demand and operating environments, including supplying power to AI data centers and providing industrial heat and ship propulsion. Bae said the government would also update laws and regulations to support the commercialization of technologies whose safety has been sufficiently verified.

In addition, South Korea said it would work with nuclear design and development companies in other countries to become a global production hub. Its accumulated manufacturing and construction capabilities will support rigorous quality control and stable supply, while AI and robotics will be used to strengthen on-site safety and quality management. South Korea also plans to expand cooperation across the entire nuclear lifecycle, including operations, decommissioning, waste management and next-generation nuclear fuels.

The conference will cover a broad range of topics, from policy directions for the safe expansion and new applications of nuclear energy to specific implementation measures. High-level sessions will discuss key policies and strategies to support energy security and carbon neutrality, including those related to the introduction of nuclear power, regulation and SMRs. Expert sessions will explore ways to develop talent, secure financing and build public trust, all of which are needed to turn policy into actual projects.

South Korea will lead the "A New Era of Nuclear Energy" session, setting out directions for technological innovation and international cooperation based on its digital and nuclear capabilities. The session will focus on ways to use AI to improve the safety and efficiency of nuclear energy and expand cooperation on the use of SMRs and marine nuclear power.

The conference has also created opportunities for engagement to connect policy discussions with industrial cooperation. On Oct. 26, the day before the conference opened, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the "Korea-U.S. Nuclear Industry Dialogue" with the U.S. Embassy in South Korea. A total of 150 representatives from the two governments and 50 companies and institutions took part, exploring opportunities to connect demand in the U.S. nuclear market with South Korea's manufacturing, construction and supply chain capabilities.

Major U.S. companies attending included TerraPower, NuScale Power, Oklo, Kairos Power and Centrus Energy. South Korean participants included Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Samsung C&T, SK Innovation and Samsung Heavy Industries. Based on market demand and policy trends in the United States, as well as existing cooperation cases, participants discussed business collaboration in design, construction, manufacturing, investment and nuclear fuel.

Follow-up discussions also took place through one-on-one meetings tailored to each company's areas of interest and a networking reception. Throughout the conference, South Korea will showcase its technological and industrial capabilities and identify follow-up cooperation projects through the K-Nuclear special exhibition pavilion and exchanges with senior officials and industry representatives.

Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi notified organizers that he would not attend just two days before the Nuclear Energy Ministerial Conference opened. As a result, a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Bae scheduled for that day was also canceled.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.