Research Reactor "HANARO" at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute to Implement Seven Safety Enhancements

Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Approves Safety Enhancement Measures from PSR for Three Reactors
No Additional Measures Required for Permanently Shut Down Kori Unit 1

Choi Wonho, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, is discussing agenda items with committee members at the 229th Nuclear Safety and Security Commission meeting held on January 15, 2026, in the main conference room of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul. 2026.1.15 Nuclear Safety and Security Commission

According to a safety assessment of the research reactor "HANARO" at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute's main campus in Daejeon, improvements are needed to meet the latest technical standards. In contrast, for the Kori Unit 1 nuclear power plant, which has been permanently shut down since 2017 and was decided to be decommissioned last year, no additional improvements were found to be necessary.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced on January 15 that it held its 229th meeting and approved the safety enhancement measures identified from the periodic safety assessments of three facilities: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Kori Unit 1, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute's research reactor HANARO, and Kyung Hee University's educational reactor.

The Periodic Safety Review (PSR) is a comprehensive safety assessment of reactor facilities conducted every 10 years in accordance with the Nuclear Safety Act, consisting of 14 assessment categories.

During the assessment process, safety enhancement measures that are reasonable and feasible for each reactor facility are identified through comparison and analysis with current technical standards.

The Commission confirmed that, for the research reactor HANARO, a total of seven safety enhancement measures were appropriately identified and implementation plans were properly established. These include an external flood impact assessment reflecting the latest meteorological data, improvements to the environmental qualification management system, and upgrades to the gaseous effluent monitoring system.

For Kori Unit 1, which is permanently shut down, the Commission reviewed the completed measures such as seismic performance verification to maintain spent fuel pool cooling, equipment redundancy, and installation of external emergency cooling water injection lines. As a result, it was confirmed that no additional safety enhancement measures were necessary.

For the educational reactor at Kyung Hee University, the Commission confirmed that no additional safety enhancement measures were needed, considering that there are no safety-related structures, systems, or components, the output is extremely low at 10 watts (W), and the facility characteristics make a severe accident unlikely.

This meeting was the first for Sung Keyong, Distinguished Professor at Dongguk University, Yeom Hakki, Research Professor at Kyung Hee University, and Park Jongwoon, Professor at Dongguk University, who were appointed as new members of the Commission on January 1. They were recommended by the National Assembly: Commissioner Sung and Commissioner Yeom by the People Power Party, and Commissioner Park by the Democratic Party of Korea.

Each of the three nuclear facilities was reviewed separately, with only Kori Unit 1 being put to a vote and approved with seven in favor and two against. Commissioner Park and Commissioner Jin Jaeyong, both recommended by the Democratic Party, opposed the approval. Commissioner Yeom recused himself from the agenda item concerning the Kyung Hee University educational reactor, as it is affiliated with his institution.