Nuclear Safety and Security Commission

NSSC Confirmed 2026 Budget; 292.7 billion Won

It has increased 5.7% compared to the budget for 2025, 276.9 billion won.

Investments in R&D for future reactor regulation have increased, including for small modular reactors (SMRs).

Completed the radiation emergency response system with the construction of the Hanbit Regional Off-site Emergency Response Center.

Expanded surveillance on radiation for overseas direct purchase items.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (Chairperson Choi Won-ho, hereinafter referred to as the NSSC) submitted the 『Budget Plan and Fund Operation Plan 2026』, and the National Assembly finally resolved it on 2nd, December.

The NSSC budget and funds for the upcoming year will total 292.7 billion won. During deliberations in the National Assembly, it was confirmed to be at a similar level to the government bill (292.6 billion won). Compared to this year's budget, the amount has increased by 5.7%. This is the result of reflecting a pan-governmental keynote, emphasizing that active budgeting for broader R&D investment is necessary to become a global leader.


1    Increase investment in R&D to prepare for future regulatory demands

The NSSC will allocate 119.1 billion won to R&D projects this year, a 17.4 billion won increase, to proactively develop technologies for future regulatory demands.

In particular, 22.5 billion won will be invested in a small modular reactor (SMR). The government is currently proceeding with research and development to quickly address regulatory requirements across the entire lifecycle of an innovative small modular reactor (i-SMR), from design to decommissioning. Moreover, the relevant regulatory framework for various types of non-light-water SMRs that do not use water as a coolant will be established in advance.


2    Verify the safety and improve the efficiency of the entire NPP cycle

The 63 billion won budget will be invested to conduct comprehensive safety checks across the entire cycle—from design and construction through operation, continued operation, and decommissioning—for all domestic NPPs.

In particular, the standard design approval for i-SMR will be requested soon. To ensure a flawless review process, professional staff should be secured, and the related costs of 3.1 billion won would be concentrated on support.


3    Establish the large-scale radiation emergency preparedness framework with the completion of Hanbit Regional Off-site Emergency Response Center.

In May 2022, the Ulju Regional Off-site Emergency Response Center (located in Ulju-gun, Ulsan / 30 km from Saeul and 38 km from Wolsong) was established, and the Hanul Regional Off-site Emergency Response Center (located in Uljin-gun, Kyungbuk / 43 km from Hanul) was established in March 2025. Once the Hanbit Regional Off-site Emergency Response Center (Buan-gun, Jeonbuk / located 31 km from Hanbit NPP) is completed, a total of eight centers will be built, including five Off-site Emergency Management Centers and three Regional Off-site Emergency Response Centers.

Once the regional radiation emergency response system is completed by 2026, the on-the-spot emergency response system, which is capable of handling large-scale NPP accidents such as the Fukushima accident, will be established, enhancing preparedness for national radiation emergencies and protecting the public.


4    Secure radiation monitoring networks for overseas direct-purchase items

The NSSC plans to allocate 370 million won from its budget to enhance the monitoring of incoming materials suspected of containing radiation entering Korea. More radiation monitors will be installed and operated at Incheon Airport as the number of overseas direct-purchase items through airports increases.

The portion of overseas direct-purchase items through e-commerce express is up to 94%. However, its monitoring rate was only about 72%. With five additional monitors in 2026, the rate is going to increase to 80%. It is expected that people will feel more relieved when purchasing goods, as radiation monitoring for overseas direct-purchase items is strengthened.

Chairperson Choi Won-ho stated, “The NSSC plans to meticulously get prepared for implementation by establishing a project plan this year, so the public can clearly see the NSSC’s main policies. We will focus on nuclear and radiation safety to ensure thorough protection of public safety.”

226th Meeting of Commission


The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (Chairperson Choi Won-ho, hereinafter referred to as the NSSC) deliberated and resolved two agenda items at its 226th meeting of the Commission on November 26 (Wednesday).


[Deliberation/Resolution Item 1]

The NSSC finally approved the construction permit and operating license for the comprehensive waste management facility (draft) requested by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, based on the evaluation results from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and a review by the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee.

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute requested a construction permit and an operating license for a new comprehensive waste management facility to handle radioactive waste generated by KAERI and to replace the aged facility. It is an integrated management facility with storage and disposal functions for radioactive waste. Its total storage capacity is 6256 drums, and its annual processing capacity is 2300 drums.

The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety confirmed that the safety of the site where the facility will be located, and the safety of structures against earthquakes, floods, and fires, as well as its ventilation and exhaust systems to prevent contamination, meet the standards for location, structure, facility, and performance. The exposure doses at the site where the waste disposal facility and other KAERI facilities are located also meet the standards. Furthermore, essential equipment and human resources are in place, and the quality assurance manual for construction and operation, covering design and procurement management, shows its compliance with legislative standards.


[Deliberation/Resolution Item 2]

The NSSC deliberated and resolved the modification of the operating license (draft) for Kori Unit 2 to establish MACST*, which Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power applied for to proceed with the accident management program for Kori Unit 2, receiving its approval last October.

* Multi-barrier Accident Coping STrategy

The Multi-barrier Accident Coping STrategy (MACST) is a method for maintaining and restoring the core cooling function and ensuring the safety of the containment building, even in the event of partial failures of existing equipment resulting from extreme natural disasters or severe accidents. This modification to the operating license involves the creation of a new external injection line within the relevant systems, such as the reactor coolant system, the containment building spray system, and the open cooling water system. It is designed to supply cooling water from the outside via portable pump trucks in the case of an emergency.

The NSSC confirmed that the safety grade, standards, and seismic capacity of the newly installed pipes and valves in the external injection line meet the relevant technical standards. Additionally, overall checks and continuous safety monitoring will be conducted during installation and throughout future operation.

NSSC Discussed on Cosmic Radiation Safety Management with Domestic 10 airlines

- The NSSC shared the 2400-time measured value of cosmic radiation.

The Korea Civil Aviation Association shared good practices for exposure dose management.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (Chairperson Choi Won-ho, hereinafter referred to as the NSSC) held a meeting with domestic airlines* operating international air routes in the main conference room of the Korea Civil Aviation Association (Seoul Gangseo-gu) on November 25 (Tuesday). The safety management status of cosmic radiation against flight attendants and good practices were shared, and challenges from the site were discussed.

* (Participated Airlines) Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Aero_K, Air Busan, airzeta, Air Premia, Jeju air, Jin air, t’way, and Parata Air (10)

Since June 2023, the NSSC has been solely responsible for managing the safety regulations for cosmic radiation. It checked and shared the results of the computing system on flight attendants’ exposure doses that air transportation operators manage, as well as on whether health diagnosis management is suitable.

To systematically and scientifically manage exposure doses for flight attendants who are frequently exposed to cosmic radiation, cosmic radiation doses were directly measured approximately 2400 times last year. The data were analyzed and showed that the current exposure dose evaluation used for domestic airlines complies with standards, and the results were shared.

Meanwhile, the Korea Civil Aviation Association introduced good practices* for exposure management, where several airlines control flight attendants’ exposure doses to levels even below the standard, 6 Millisievert (mSv) per year.

* (Air Premia) The cockpit crew is managed through monitoring, categorizing risk groups, and including in/excluding from work schedules based on exposure doses. The cabin crew changes their work schedules if the exposure dose reaches 5.0~5.5 mSv annually.

Along with this, participants also discussed how to limit the number of cross-polar-route flights, distribute work evenly across high and low latitudes, and decrease altitude when flying in high latitudes. It aims to determine flight attendants’ interest in cosmic radiation safety management and the on-site measures to be implemented.

Chairperson Choi Won-ho said, “Last year was dedicated to preparing for the foundation of future operations, ensuring that the cosmic radiation safety management system functions efficiently on the ground. To guarantee that flight attendants experience enhanced safety management in practice, we will make every effort to implement the system seamlessly and prioritize a safety management culture to protect their health.”

NSSC Met with Generators for Safe and Fast Disposal of Radioactive Waste

The NSSC launched the ‘Nuclear Safety Roundtable’ with radioactive waste-generating and managing facilities.

Discussed current issues with radioactive waste and collected on-site opinions.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (Chairperson Choi Won-ho, hereinafter referred to as the NSSC) launched the ‘Nuclear Safety Roundtable’ with facilities that generate and manage radioactive waste to discuss quick and safe disposal methods. It was held in the main conference room of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, on November 21 (Friday).

< Nuclear Safety Roundtable (Nov 21) Overview >
󰋮 (Date/Location) November 21, 2025 (Friday) 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM / Main Conference Room, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (Yuseong-gu, Daejeon)
󰋮 (Participants) Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, and Radioactive waste generating and managing facilities*

* Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd, KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd, Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, and Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

This roundtable is the sixth event held this year. As the decommissioning of Kori Unit 1 began in earnest, and the second-phase radioactive waste disposal facility of the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) is set to start operations in 2026, this event was organized to raise social awareness of radioactive waste disposal and to listen to the challenges faced by the related institutions at the site.

At the roundtable, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd., Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and other radioactive waste generators shared their efforts in the safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste. They also outlined plans for the systematic and timely disposal of radioactive waste stored in facilities.

In particular, the future decommissioning of Kori Unit 1 is expected to produce significant amounts of radioactive waste in various forms. Therefore, the institutions highlighted the importance of a regulatory system that ensures safety and efficiency at the same time, while calling for an active role and support from the NSSC.

Moreover, a deep discussion on the institutional and procedural challenges people on-site have experienced while conducting radioactive-waste-related tasks over a long period, as well as the regulatory improvements required for rational implementation, was shared.

Chairperson Choi Won-ho stated, “The decommissioning of Kori Unit 1 is in full swing, and it will enable South Korea’s radioactive waste management system to enter a new phase, marking a critical turning point.” “The safe management and disposal of radioactive waste is the final step in using nuclear energy. Since its impact can be passed down to future generations, this is a crucial task. Please continue to work hard to establish a system for radioactive waste management that the public can trust,” he added.

Chairperson Choi Won-ho also said, “The NSSC will actively listen to and incorporate voices from the sites and create a rational and predictable regulatory environment, ensuring safe radioactive waste disposal and management without delays."

225th Meeting of Commission

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (Chairperson Choi Won-ho, hereinafter referred to as the NSSC) held its 225th meeting of the Commission in written form to deliberate and resolve the 「Modification of Operation License in Nuclear Facilities (draft)」 on November 20 (Thursday).

This agenda item is about the modification of the operation license to enhance the fire resistance of the fire barrier system at Hanul NPP Units 3 and 4, at the request of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP). It also includes modifications to the construction and operation approvals for the ARA research building* requested by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The NSSC reviewed safety based on the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) technical review and concluded that it complied with Articles 21, 36, and 39-5 of the 「Nuclear Safety Act」.

* A facility to study and produce nuclear fuel used for the ARA reactor (a multi-purpose small reactor)

Regarding Hanul Units 3 and 4, the fire hazard analysis confirmed that supplementing the fire barrier system is necessary to protect electric wires in specific areas from fire.

As a result, an additional fire barrier with a one-hour fire resistance rating will be added to the regular fire barrier system, and another fire insulation with a three-hour fire resistance rating will be installed in partial areas. Various performance tests confirmed that they met the requirements for approval.

※ Fire barrier: A Blocking material that blocks and slows the spread of fire to cables or electrical equipment.

※ Fire resistance rating: Standards that indicate how long it can maintain its ability under fire or high temperatures.

Regarding the ARA research building, the goal is to define the specifications and processes for the devices reviewed for their applicability through detailed design, and to incorporate them into the permission document. It has been confirmed that these modifications do not compromise the facilities’ safety but comply with the technical standards.

NSSC, Communicating with Local Residents

- A general workshop will be held in Gwang-ju Metropolitan City with seven Nuclear Safety Councils nationwide.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (Chairperson Choi Won-ho, hereinafter referred to as the NSSC) will hold a general workshop for Nuclear Safety Councils (hereinafter referred to as the Safety Council) in Gwang-ju Metropolitan City from November 19 to 20.

Safety Councils are established and operated in seven regions* where NPPs are located to communicate with nearby areas around nuclear facilities. A total of 170 council members have participated, including representatives among local residents, local government employees, regional assembly members, and specialists.

* Kori (Gi-jang), Saeul (Ul-ju), Wolsong (Gyeong-ju), Hanbit (Yeong-gwang, Go-chang), Hanul (Ul-jin), Daejeon

The NSSC plans to use this workshop to improve understanding of nuclear power and radiation safety, as well as to strengthen communication by offering targeted training on nuclear safety information disclosure, radioactive waste, and the current status of spent-fuel management, which the Council members care about.

Secretary General Cho Chung-Ah from the NSSC said, “I thank the Safety Council for being a representative for local residents, serving an essential role as a communication channel between the regulatory body and local regions. The NSSC will prioritize nuclear safety, work closely with various stakeholders, and improve cooperation.”