Why South Korea Needs Long-Term Nuclear Research Partners

• Jun 13, 2025

South Korea has made impressive progress in nuclear energy, expanding from building large reactors to exploring advanced technologies like fusion and small modular reactors (SMRs). But as its global profile grows, the country faces a critical decision: should it keep focusing on short-term, one-off nuclear projects, or invest in deeper, long-term research partnerships?

While single contracts may bring quick wins, experts argue that long-term bilateral cooperation is essential if South Korea wants to become a true leader in nuclear innovation.

Over the past decade, South Korea has taken on several international projects. The most notable is the construction of four APR1400 reactors in the United Arab Emirates’ Barakah complex, which began in 2009. More recently, smaller contracts in countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, and Egypt have involved everything from reactor construction to tritium removal systems. These deals have helped boost South Korea’s industrial capacity and its reputation abroad.

However, many of these projects are limited in scope and are tied to specific government policies or political climates. Once the construction phase ends, most of the collaboration does too. There is often little follow-up in terms of joint research or technology development. In some cases, like in Egypt and Romania, the partner countries lack strong research capabilities, which means South Korea carries most of the technological load without gaining much in return.

By contrast, South Korea’s long-standing partnerships with countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Japan offer much more strategic value. With the US, South Korea has worked since 1976 on areas like safety, fuel management, and SMRs. A 2025 memorandum between the two countries now includes export control coordination. These partnerships go beyond business, involving joint research, training, and even policy alignment.

Recent cooperation with the UK has deepened too. Under the UK-Korea Clean Energy Partnership, nine agreements were signed in late 2023, covering nuclear waste, decommissioning, and fuel development. South Korea also has decades-long ties with France and Japan, and plays a key role in the international ITER fusion project.

This kind of bilateral collaboration is especially vital in emerging areas like SMRs, where technologies are still under development and global standards are being formed. Partnerships with companies like NuScale (US), TerraPower (US), and USNC (via Poland) are promising—but only if they evolve into lasting frameworks.

South Korea’s future as a nuclear leader will depend not just on what it builds, but on who it builds it with—and how deeply those relationships go.