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National Assembly Passes SMR Special Act: Key Provisions for Fostering Next-Generation Nuclear Industry and Establishing Comprehensive Support Framework

2026.03.18.

On February 12, 2026, the National Assembly passed the Special Act on the Promotion and Support of the Development of Small Modular Reactors (the “Act”) at a plenary session, a legislation designed to accelerate the early commercialization of small modular reactors (SMRs), a cornerstone technology in next-generation nuclear energy, and to support the development of a robust industrial ecosystem around them.


The enactment of this special legislation is significant in that it departs from the existing framework of the Nuclear Energy Promotion Act, which has focused on large-scale nuclear power plants, and instead establishes a dedicated legal basis reflecting the distinctive characteristics of SMR technology. In particular, the Act provides for (i) the formulation and systematic management of a master plan for SMR development, (ii) the establishment of an SMR promotion committee to facilitate efficient policy implementation, (iii) government support for research and development and commercialization initiatives, and (iv) the designation of SMR special zones and the introduction of regulatory exemptions and a range of other support measures for the full spectrum of SMR-related activities. At the same time, as global competition in the SMR sector intensifies, the legislation has certain limitations. While the Act places considerable emphasis on establishing support systems—under the leadership of the Minister of Science and ICT—for research, development, and demonstration of SMR technologies, it offers relatively limited substantive detail regarding several critical elements necessary for full-scale commercialization, including licensing procedures, regulatory frameworks, and concrete industrial support mechanisms, beyond broadly framed declaratory provisions.


This legal update outlines the principal provisions of the Act and highlights key implications for companies and industry stakeholders. 


For more details, please refer to the full report attached below.


[Korean version] SMR 특별법안 통과: 차세대 원자력 산업 육성 및 다각적 지원 체계의 주요 내용