South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Oct. 27 that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Ministerial Meeting opened at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.

The IAEA Nuclear Ministerial Meeting is a high-level meeting to discuss the peaceful use of nuclear power and future policy directions. It is usually held every 4 years. It began in Paris in 2005 and this year marks the sixth meeting.

The meeting, being held in South Korea for the first time, runs for 3 days through Oct. 29. About 800 people are attending, including participants from governments of 60 member states, eight international organisations and about 85 companies at home and abroad. Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), who also serves as science minister, is chairing the meeting.

In his opening remarks, Bae stressed nuclear safety, nuclear security and principles of non-proliferation, and urged expanded international cooperation. In his keynote speech, he presents three main policy directions for South Korea: strengthening trust based on safety and transparency, safe development and demonstration of small modular reactors (SMRs), and becoming a global nuclear production hub.

The meeting will discuss policies related to energy security and carbon neutrality, including nuclear power plant adoption and regulation and SMRs. South Korea will lead a session titled "A New Era of Nuclear Power" and plans to present measures to improve nuclear safety and efficiency based on AI and expand the use of SMRs and marine nuclear power.

Industry cooperation will also take place alongside the meeting. The ministry will hold the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Industry Dialogue on Oct. 26, the day before the opening, together with the U.S. embassy in Seoul. Some 150 officials from 50 companies and institutions from the two countries will attend, including U.S. firms TerraPower, NuScale Power, Oklo and Kairos Power, and South Korean participants including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan Enerbility and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, to discuss cooperation in design, construction, manufacturing, investment and nuclear fuel.

Bae said, "Based on the SMR special act and the 'seven SEED projects', we will bring together public and private capabilities to push forward safe development and demonstration of SMRs." He said, "We will link South Korea's capabilities with global demand for nuclear power to become a global production hub, and as a model nuclear country we will grow together with the international community."