Korea-France Nuclear Cooperation Expands to SMRs and Nuclear Fuel Supply Chains

Chief representatives to nuclear committee elevated from director-general to bureau-chief level; 21 agenda items to be discussed
Cooperation strengthened on joint molten salt reactor research and high-level radioactive waste management

South Korea and France will expand their nuclear cooperation into next-generation reactor technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs), nuclear fuel supply chains, and the management of high-level radioactive waste. As a follow-up to the summit between the two countries, they will raise the seniority of the chief representatives to the Joint Coordination Committee on Nuclear Energy and broaden the scope of cooperation to cover everything from securing nuclear fuel to decommissioning and waste disposal.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that they will jointly hold the 27th Korea-France Joint Coordination Committee on Nuclear Energy with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in Saclay, France, from November 12 to 13.

Research facilities related to sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) at the Cadarache Research Center of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). At the 27th Korea-France Joint Coordinating Committee on Nuclear Energy, Korea and France agreed to expand cooperation on next-generation reactor technologies, including SFRs and molten salt reactors (MSRs). French CEA website

The meeting is a follow-up to discussions on strengthening nuclear cooperation at the Korea-France summits in April and September. The two countries have elevated the chief representatives to the committee from director-general level. Kim Seong-su, head of the R&D Policy Bureau at South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, and the head of the CEA will serve as chief representatives for their respective countries.

At the meeting, the two countries will discuss 21 technical cooperation agenda items across three areas: nuclear R&D, safety, and industry.

In R&D, they agreed to expand cooperation in future nuclear technologies, including sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) and molten salt reactors (MSRs), as well as decontamination and decommissioning, radioactive waste management, nuclear fuel, and radiation technologies. In particular, they will discuss the use of joint research facilities and exchanges of research personnel as new cooperation agenda items to support the development of materials for MSRs.

In nuclear safety, the two countries agreed to continue technical information exchanges between their relevant institutions and strengthen academic exchanges on reactivity-initiated accidents using France's CABRI research reactor, as well as technical cooperation in emergency medical care for radiation exposure.

Expanding Cooperation from Securing Nuclear Fuel to Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants

In the nuclear industry, the two countries will discuss ways to ensure a stable supply of nuclear fuel, based on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on nuclear fuel supply chain cooperation signed following their recent summit. They also plan to expand industrial cooperation, which has focused on radioactive waste management, to cover the entire nuclear industry cycle, from nuclear fuel supply to radioactive waste disposal and nuclear power plant decommissioning.

Cooperation to secure facilities for managing high-level radioactive waste is also a key agenda item. The two countries will share updates on relevant policies and discuss ways to encourage public participation and build social acceptance in South Korea, drawing on France's experience in site selection. They also plan to pursue joint research on site surveys and assessments and make use of underground research facilities.

The two countries also agreed to revise the 1982 Agreement on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea-France Joint Coordination Committee on Nuclear Energy. The key changes will be to update existing provisions, including the names of institutions, and add next-generation reactors such as SMRs and front-end and back-end nuclear fuel cycle areas to the scope of cooperation.

The Korea-France Joint Coordination Committee on Nuclear Energy is a government-wide cooperation channel that has been in operation since 1982, following the signing of a nuclear cooperation agreement by the two countries in 1981. This year also marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Kim Seong-su, head of the R&D Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "Through this committee meeting, we will further strengthen the framework for cooperation between the two countries, including new agenda items such as the front-end and back-end nuclear fuel cycle." He added, "We will expand joint research and personnel exchanges across various fields, including next-generation nuclear technologies such as SMRs."

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