South Korea Launches Standard Design Approval Review for i-SMR

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea is set to initiate a safety review of the standard design approval application for the innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR). This project is part of the small modular reactor research and development program led by the South Korean government.

The NSSC stated on August 28 that, at its 13th meeting of 2026 held on August 27, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) reported on the review plan for the i-SMR standard design approval application. KINS had previously conducted a suitability review of the standard design approval application documents submitted in February of this year and determined that the documents met the conditions for entering the safety review phase, thereby establishing a subsequent review plan.

The standard design approval system is designed to streamline the licensing process for the repeated construction of reactors with identical designs. The approval is valid for 10 years, and matters approved through this process do not need to be re-listed in subsequent applications for construction permits and operating licenses.

The NSSC confirmed that 13 items in the documents submitted by the applicant require further supplementation and requested that they be completed sequentially by June of next year. The deadline for submitting major verification test results is June 2028.

According to regulations, the processing period for the standard design approval review is 24 months; however, the time required for supplementing and revising application documents, as well as the time for tests used to verify safety, is not counted toward the review period. Therefore, the NSSC stated that the final completion time of the review may still be adjusted.

An NSSC official stated that during the review process, priority will be given to verifying the safety of design features such as the i-SMR's modular design and passive safety systems, and confirming whether they comply with the approval standards stipulated by law.