An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said that the operator of Unit 2 of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Busan, Republic of Korea, has demonstrated a commitment to operational safety and to the continuous improvement of safety. The team also encouraged the operator to further improve safety in areas including leadership and management for safety, as well as in operations and radiation protection.

The Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) mission was conducted from 26 October to 12 November 2026 at Unit 2 of the Kori NPP, also known as ShinKori Unit 2, at the request of the Government of the Republic of Korea. The mission reviewed operating practices and arrangements important to the safe and reliable operation of the unit.

OSART missions independently assess safety performance against IAEA safety standards. The aim is to advance operational safety by proposing recommendations and, where appropriate, suggestions for improvement.

ShinKori Unit 2, which is operated by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), started commercial operation in 2012, and it is one of the 26 reactors operated by KHNP. It is a pressurized water reactor with 1000 megawatt electrical power output.

The OSART team reviewed operating practices in ShinKori Unit 2 in the areas of leadership and management for safety, training and qualification, operations, maintenance, technical support, radiation protection, chemistry, emergency preparedness, and accident management. The team included experts from China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and one observer from the United Arab Emirates. The multidisciplinary team, together with IAEA staff members, enabled a broad exchange of international experience across the operational safety areas covered by the review.

In preparation for the mission, the team reviewed information provided by ShinKori Unit 2 on the plant's main technical features, organizational structure, staff responsibilities and operational arrangements. During the mission, the team observed activities at the plant, reviewed performance indicators and held in-depth discussions with plant personnel.

The OSART team found the plant's staff to be knowledgeable, professional and strongly committed to continuously improving operational safety and reliability of the plant. The team also highlighted the constructive technical discussions and the valuable exchange of experience and knowledge, which helped identify ways to further advance the shared goal of excellence in operational safety.

"This mission has particular historical significance for the OSART programme," said Juraj Rovny, the OSART Team Leader and Head of the Operational Safety Section at the IAEA. "The IAEA established the programme in 1982, and the first OSART mission was conducted at Kori Nuclear Power Plant in August 1983. Returning to the Kori site more than four decades later demonstrates the Republic of Korea's long-standing engagement with international peer review and its commitment to the continuous improvement of operational safety. The open and professional exchanges during this mission allowed the team and plant personnel to learn from each other and to identify further opportunities to strengthen safety."

The team identified areas of good practice to be shared with the nuclear industry globally, including:

• The development of an innovative virtual field operation system that enables field and control room operators to train together in realistic scenarios, strengthening coordination and teamwork;
• The use of an innovative mechanical process for activated carbon filter waste that reduces manual handling and contamination risks, while improving radioactive waste processing; and
• The implementation of an integrated disaster monitoring system that consolidates real-time information on external hazards and provides plant-specific warnings.

The mission also provided some recommendations to further improve safety, including that the plant should consider strengthening:

• The implementation and reinforcement of its industrial safety arrangements and expectations;
• The conduct and control of operational activities to ensure effective operations and the accurate transfer and use of operational information; and
• Arrangements and practices for contamination control to minimize the risk of contamination spreading.

"We sincerely appreciate the IAEA review team's professional assessment and valuable insights. The findings of the mission will help us further strengthen our safety culture and continuously improve operational safety and reliability," said Song Chang-Soo, Director General of Kori NPP. "We remain firmly committed to making nuclear safety our highest priority."

The team provided a draft report of the mission to the plant management. They will have the opportunity to make factual comments on the draft. These comments will be reviewed by the IAEA, and the final report will be submitted to the Republic of Korea within three months.

Background

General information about OSART missions can be found on the IAEA website. An OSART mission is designed as a review of programmes and activities essential to operational safety. It is not a regulatory inspection, nor is it a design review or a substitute for an exhaustive assessment of the plant's overall safety status.

Follow-up missions are standard components of the OSART programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission.

The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.