Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety to Host First Advanced Reactor Safety Technology Symposium

The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) announced that it will host the "1st Symposium on Advanced Reactor Safety Technology (SARST 2026)" on September 1-2, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom on the first floor of the Commodore Hotel Busan. The event aims to facilitate exchanges on domestic and international advanced reactor technology trends and safety regulation issues, promoting technical communication and cooperation among regulatory bodies, developers, and research institutions.

As the inaugural symposium, SARST is planned to be held annually thereafter. This year's conference will be divided into a plenary session and two technical sessions, covering topics such as the development of regulatory frameworks for advanced reactors, regulatory research progress, responses to standard design certification for innovative small modular reactors (i-SMR), and verification plans for related design features, among other subjects.

The plenary session on September 1 will focus on the current status of safety regulation and regulatory research for advanced reactors, as well as key response directions in the standard design certification review of i-SMR. The technical session on the same day will also discuss international regulatory trends for nuclear-powered ships, relevant responses by the Korean Register of Shipping, MARINA development and safety research, the applicability of the MARS-KS safety analysis regulatory audit code to next-generation non-light water reactors, and technology-neutral, risk-informed, performance-based regulatory approaches.

The technical session on September 2 will focus on the inherent design characteristics of innovative SMRs, with presentations and discussions on standard design certification review directions in areas such as safety analysis, electrical systems, instrumentation and control, systems assessment, mechanical systems, materials, and structures. These arrangements indicate that Korea is accelerating the development of a more forward-looking regulatory technology foundation in response to the commercialization and licensing review needs of advanced reactors.

KINS President Lim Seung-cheol stated that the Institute is proactively addressing future regulatory demands by developing i-SMR safety review guidelines, conducting standard design certification reviews, and establishing a regulatory framework that reflects the technical characteristics of non-light water advanced reactors. He expressed expectations that this symposium will serve as an important communication platform for regulators, developers, and researchers to share the latest technical experience and knowledge and jointly discuss directions for safety assurance. Pre-registration for the symposium will remain open until August 21, and presentation materials will be made available on the conference website from September 1 to 4.