A Turning Point for Energy Innovation and Safety : Opening a New Era of Nuclear Regulation
By Heo Gyunyoung [Professor, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University]
▶ Safety regulations are essential in high-risk industries like nuclear energy, and must be tailored to each country’s unique legal, cultural and technological context, especially with the rise of innovations like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
▶ Customized safety regulations in various countries create conflicts, as there is no universal standard, which hinders the widespread adoption of SMRs, which are crucial for carbon neutrality, raising the need for “self-reliant safety regulations”.
▶ “Self-reliant safety regulations” enable safer management by addressing gaps in existing rules and allowing for flexible, graded decision-making.
▶ South Korea must strengthen its leadership in nuclear safety regulations, develop expertise and infrastructure, align with global standards, and actively engage in international cooperation, especially with the U.S., to ensure the safe and innovative future of nuclear power.
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