On October 22, 2024, the Gyeongnam International Conference on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) was held at the Changwon Convention Center under the theme “The Future of SMRs: The World Asks, Gyeongnam Answers.”

Marking its inaugural year, the conference was designed to align with the Korean government’s national agenda to secure next-generation nuclear design and manufacturing technologies. The event brought together leading global SMR companies, Korean nuclear industry players, and research institutions to share the latest developments in SMR design and manufacturing technologies. It also aimed to strengthen international and domestic networking, thereby creating opportunities for investment and export in Gyeongnam’s local nuclear supply chain.

The event was hosted by Gyeongsangnam-do Province and co-organized by the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) and the Korean Nuclear Society (KNS). The main program on October 22 featured an opening ceremony, keynote speeches, a domestic session (Session I), an international session, and a second domestic session (Session II).

On October 23, the conference continued with a technical tour, allowing representatives from global SMR companies to visit nuclear-related industrial sites in the Gyeongnam region. This tour provided international participants with firsthand insight into Korea’s industrial capabilities and offered a valuable platform for future cooperation and business development.