South Korea, France Expand Nuclear Cooperation
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention held the 27th Korea-France Nuclear Joint Coordinating Committee with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, or CEA, in Saclay, France, for two days from Nov. 12. The
On November 12, the 27th Korea-France Nuclear Joint Coordinating Committee took place in Saclay, France, between the Ministries of Science and ICT and Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention. The meeting, which included chief delegates at the director-general level, expanded cooperation from a focus on radioactive waste management to the entire nuclear industry.
During the two-day event, both nations discussed 21 technical cooperation agenda items spanning three areas: future nuclear technologies, decontamination and decommissioning, nuclear fuel, and radiation technology. They agreed to collaborate on new initiatives, such as joint research facilities for molten salt reactor (MSR) development and research personnel exchanges. For safety, academic exchanges on reactivity accidents will utilize France's CABRI research reactor.
Industrial cooperation will be expanded along the entire nuclear cycle, from fuel production to radioactive waste disposal and power plant decommissioning. The two countries also aimed to promote public participation and social acceptance in South Korea, inspired by France's experience with a high-level radioactive waste management facility.
Additionally, the joint committee's arrangement, initially signed in 1982, was revised to include next-generation reactors like small modular reactors (SMRs) and the nuclear fuel cycle sectors.
Kim Sung-soo, Director General for Research and Development Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized that the two sides would bolster their cooperation framework by incorporating new agenda items, such as the front-end and back-end nuclear fuel cycle. The government plans to intensify joint research and personnel exchanges in next-generation nuclear technologies, including SMRs, to propel a new phase of bilateral development.
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