The 2027 budget for the nuclear safety sector has been allocated at 303 billion won, a 3.6% increase from the previous year. The core of this budget is the establishment of a regulatory framework in preparation for the commercialization of SMRs (small modular reactors).

80 Billion Won for SMR Regulatory and Evaluation Framework... 2.7 Billion Won for Non-Light-Water Reactor Pre-Review

80 billion won has been allocated for research and development (R&D) to establish a new SMR evaluation system. The government will pursue related evaluation and regulatory technology research to respond to the full-scale launch of SMR licensing targets set for the early 2030s.

2.7 billion won will be invested in the pre-review of non-light-water SMR reactor designs. The goal is to reduce regulatory uncertainty that could arise in the future licensing process by having the regulatory body conduct technical reviews from the early stages of development.

SMRs differ from existing large nuclear power plants in scale and design methods, so actual commercialization requires not only technology development but also the establishment of suitable safety evaluation and licensing systems. The fact that the government is investing budget in regulatory technology and evaluation framework building, separate from SMR technology development, is noteworthy in that it shows the domestic SMR ecosystem is expanding from R&D to the stage of preparing for actual licensing and commercialization.

111 Billion Won for Safety Reviews Across the Lifecycle of Existing Nuclear Plants

Budget will also be allocated to verifying the safety of existing nuclear power plants. 111 billion won has been earmarked to address major review and inspection issues, including safety reviews for continued operation of nuclear plants, decommissioning reviews, and safety reviews of dry storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel.

7.7 billion won has been allocated for the full implementation of the continuous inspection system. The related framework will be strengthened so that inspection activities can be carried out during plant operation through the reform of the inspection system.

A Total of Seven Information Sharing Centers to Be Built... AI Search and Radiation Monitoring Also Strengthened

Projects to improve information accessibility in areas surrounding nuclear power plants will also be pursued. 48 billion won has been allocated for building nuclear safety information sharing centers. If the project proceeds as planned, a total of seven centers in Kori, Wolsong, Yeonggwang, Saeul, Gochang, Hanul, and Daejeon will be completed. The nuclear safety information sharing portal will be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI)-based search functions to improve access to nuclear safety-related information.

Radiation monitoring functions will also be strengthened. 1.4 billion won has been allocated for establishing and operating a national radiation monitoring center. A center will be installed at the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) to reinforce environmental radiation monitoring and analysis systems. An information system integrating environmental, atmospheric, and seawater radiation data from across the country will also be built, with plans to expand data disclosure focusing on information closely related to daily life.

Cautious Interpretation of Direct Benefits for Woori Technology... Key Focus Is 'SMR Regulatory Infrastructure'

In the stock market, business progress of nuclear power-related companies is also drawing attention alongside these nuclear policy trends. Woori Technology, which operates a nuclear plant control and instrumentation business, is one of the stocks that has attracted market attention at a time when nuclear industry and SMR-related policies are in the spotlight.

However, since this 303 billion won budget is centered on nuclear safety and regulatory areas, caution is needed in interpreting it as a budget directly benefiting Woori Technology. The government's released budget proposal alone does not confirm new orders or revenue generation for Woori Technology.

Rather, the point to watch is that the government is concretizing the construction of regulatory infrastructure necessary for SMR commercialization. For the SMR industry to actually move into the commercialization stage, safety evaluation, regulatory review, and licensing procedures must proceed together with reactor development. This budget proposal includes projects to prepare such institutional foundations.

Going forward, whether domestic SMR licensing schedules, actual project orders, and related companies' order wins become concrete is expected to be a key variable in judging the real business momentum of nuclear power-related companies, including Woori Technology.

[This article does not recommend buying or selling any specific stock, and investment decisions and their responsibilities rest with the investor. This article was written with AI assistance in drafting and editing.]