The South Korean government is set to enhance its approach to nuclear power exports by supporting not only construction and technology but also the establishment of safety regulation systems. The initiative aims to increase export competitiveness, particularly targeting countries like Vietnam and the Philippines that are pursuing new nuclear power projects.
On August 13, the Ministry of Trade and the Nuclear Safety Commission announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation in Seoul to facilitate the successful overseas deployment of Korean-style nuclear power plants.
Under this agreement, the Ministry and the Commission will continuously share information on the status of overseas nuclear projects, regulatory conditions by country, and cooperation needs. They will also assist in building regulatory frameworks tailored to the project stages in the target export countries, leveraging the regulatory experience accumulated in South Korea during the design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants.
Previously, when regulatory cooperation was requested from abroad, the Ministry would relay the demand to the Commission, which would respond individually with specialized agencies. This new framework will integrate nuclear exports with regulatory cooperation from the initial stages of projects, allowing for a coordinated response.
Countries looking to introduce new nuclear power must establish relevant laws, permitting processes, and technical standards, as well as develop regulatory bodies and specialized personnel. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommends that countries seeking to adopt nuclear power secure regulatory frameworks and licensing capabilities before selecting technology suppliers.
The South Korean government is particularly focused on the Southeast Asian market, where countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are showing interest in new nuclear projects. Following the signing of the MOU, a meeting between the Ministry and the Commission reviewed the status of nuclear projects in Vietnam, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines, and discussed country-specific strategies based on regulatory cooperation examples from the United Arab Emirates and the Czech Republic.
Additionally, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, the Nuclear Export Industry Association, the Korea Atomic Energy Safety Technology Institute, and the Korea Atomic Energy Control Technology Institute signed separate agreements. The government will define cooperation directions for each country, allowing relevant agencies to carry out specific regulatory cooperation tasks.
Minister of Trade Kim Jeong-kwan stated, "We have established an official cooperation framework that systematically links nuclear exports with regulatory cooperation, consolidating the expertise of both ministries and related agencies. We will comprehensively respond to the diverse cooperation needs of countries introducing new nuclear power, such as Vietnam."
Chairman Choi Won-ho of the Nuclear Safety Commission remarked, "We will promote regulatory cooperation tailored to the conditions and needs of countries that are targets for our nuclear exports, based on our accumulated regulatory experience and expertise."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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