– 5.7% Increase Compared to This Year
A perspective drawing of the SMR from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. [Herald DB]
[Herald Economy = Reporter Koo Bon-hyuk] The budget for the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) for next year has been confirmed at 292.7 billion won, reflecting an increase of 5.7% compared to this year.
The ‘2026 Budget and Fund Management Plan’ for the NSC, which was finally approved in the National Assembly’s plenary session on the 2nd, remains similar to the previous government proposal, highlighting the need for an active financial role in expanding research and development (R&D) investments as part of a government-wide initiative to transition into a global leading nation.
To proactively secure technologies in anticipation of future regulatory demands, the NSC will allocate 119.1 billion won, an increase of 17.4 billion won compared to this year, to R&D projects.
In particular, 22.5 billion won will be invested in small modular reactors (SMRs) to expand R&D to timely address regulatory demands across the full lifecycle of the innovative small modular reactor (i-SMR) that the government is currently promoting — from design to decommissioning. Moreover, to prepare for developing various non-light water small modular reactors that do not use water as a coolant, plans are in place to establish a related regulatory framework in advance.
A budget of 63 billion won will be provided to thoroughly verify and check safety across all domestic nuclear power plants throughout the entire process from design and construction to operation, continued operation, and decommissioning.
To ensure a thorough review of the impending application for the standard design approval of the small modular reactor (i-SMR), professional personnel will be expanded and related costs of 3.1 billion won will be intensively supported.
The completion of the Hanbit Regional Command Center will finalize the disaster prevention infrastructure to prepare for large-scale radioactive disasters.
Upon completion of the construction of the Hanbit Regional Command Center (located in Buan-gun, Jeonbuk, 31 km away from the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant) next year, a total of eight centers nationwide, including five on-site command centers and three regional command centers, will be established.
Once the regional radioactive disaster prevention command system is completed, an on-site response system will be in place to protect residents promptly and thoroughly in the event of a large-scale nuclear power plant accident like the Fukushima incident.
Efforts are also being made to expand the radiological surveillance network for overseas direct purchase items.
With the increase in overseas direct purchase items entering through airports, the NSC plans to strengthen monitoring of suspicious radioactive materials entering the country by investing 370 million won to expand and operate radiation monitors at Incheon Airport.
With the proportion of e-commerce overseas direct purchases among express items reaching 94%, the monitoring rate was only about 72%. However, once five more monitors are added next year, the monitoring rate is expected to increase to around 80%. By strengthening radiological monitoring of overseas direct purchase items, it is expected that citizens will be able to use products with greater peace of mind.
Chairman Choi Won-ho of the NSC stated, “In order for citizens to feel the impact of major policies of the NSC, we plan to thoroughly prepare for the execution processes, such as the development of business plans, from this year,” and emphasized, “We will prioritize nuclear and radiation safety to ensure the safety of the public.”