On May 18, 2026, South Korea took a significant step onto the world stage by achieving a first-of-its-kind approval for a new international standard on nuclear power plant dismantling. After nearly three years of technical debate and negotiation, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) gave the green light to South Korea’s proposal, marking the first time any country has led the charge to set global rules for this high-stakes, high-value industry. The news, announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s National Institute of Technology and Standards (NITS), signals a dramatic shift for South Korea from being an adopter of international standards to a rule-maker—especially in the complex field of nuclear dismantling.
South Korea’s journey began back in June 2023, when it submitted the proposal to ISO. The process was anything but simple. According to reporting by News1 and NewsiAn, the proposal faced rigorous technical scrutiny, with nine key member countries—including the United States, China, and Japan—eventually voting in favor. This approval granted the proposal the status of a New Project (NP) standard, the crucial first threshold in ISO’s multi-stage standardization process.
The approved standard is broad in scope, covering the full gamut of nuclear plant dismantling. It lays out general requirements that apply from the very start—defining key terminology and basic principles—through to planning, execution, and ongoing management. This comprehensive approach is designed to ensure that every phase of the dismantling process meets rigorous safety, environmental, and operational benchmarks. As Etnews put it, the standard “includes terminology, planning, execution, and management systems,” forming the backbone for future international guidelines.
But South Korea’s ambitions don’t stop there. As project leader, the country will now spearhead the next stages of the ISO process, which include gathering feedback from other member nations starting May 19, 2026. The goal: to finalize and publish the full international standard by December 2027. This isn’t just a matter of paperwork—each phase, from Working Draft to Committee Draft, Draft International Standard, and Final Draft International Standard, will require consensus-building and technical refinement, with South Korea at the helm.
Perhaps even more striking is the plan to develop a series of nine additional, highly detailed international standards. These will address everything from radioactive waste management and facility analysis to safety evaluations, dismantling operations, contamination removal, radiation protection and monitoring, clearance criteria, and site restoration. According to NewsiAn, these standards are set to be rolled out sequentially, ensuring that every technical and safety aspect of dismantling is covered. The participation of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will help align these new standards with global nuclear safety norms, lending further credibility and technical robustness to the entire effort.
The stakes behind this push are enormous. The IAEA estimates that by 2050, more than 400 nuclear reactors worldwide will need to be dismantled, with the global market for such work expected to surpass 500 trillion Korean won (roughly $370 billion USD). This is no small pie, and the competition for a slice is fierce. Historically, only a handful of countries—namely the United States, Germany, Japan, and Switzerland—have completed full-scale nuclear dismantling projects, with the U.S. being the only one to have dismantled commercial reactors. As Hankyung.com noted, this is a market with daunting barriers to entry, where technical expertise and operational experience are essential.
For South Korea, the timing is fortuitous. The nation’s first commercial nuclear power plant, Kori Unit 1, recently began its own dismantling process, offering a real-world test bed for developing and refining the necessary technologies and operational know-how. This project, combined with the new international standardization initiative, positions South Korea’s nuclear industry to move from strength to strength—no longer just building and operating reactors, but mastering the full life cycle, from design and construction through to safe, efficient decommissioning.
The government and industry leaders see this as a watershed moment. Kim Dae-ja, head of the National Institute of Technology and Standards, underscored the significance of the achievement in remarks quoted by multiple outlets: “Our country has always accepted international standards in nuclear construction and operation, but now, with the establishment of this standard, we are taking the lead in the field of dismantling.” He added, “We will not only drive ISO standards but also actively participate in establishing de facto standards such as those of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to support the export competitiveness of K-Nuclear.”
Indeed, the government’s ambitions are not limited to technical leadership. There is a clear strategic vision to use the new standards as a springboard for boosting the export potential of South Korean nuclear technology. By shaping the rules that define global best practice in dismantling, Korean firms hope to gain a competitive edge in bidding for lucrative contracts around the world. The government has also committed to supporting workforce training and institutional backing to ensure that the domestic industry is ready to seize these new opportunities.
Of course, challenges remain. The process of moving from NP approval to a published international standard is complex and can be fraught with technical disagreements and political maneuvering. As Hankyung.com editorialized, “The standardization process is only at the first gate; there are more hurdles ahead, but with major countries’ support and project leader status, Korea is well-positioned to drive the discussion to its goal by the end of 2027.” The editorial also highlighted the need for South Korea to secure leadership in the nine additional technical standards, which will be crucial for consolidating its position in the market.
Yet, the sense of momentum is palpable. For a country that until recently was seen as a latecomer in the dismantling sector—despite its global reputation for excellence in nuclear construction and operation—this new leadership role marks a dramatic turnaround. As more reactors around the world reach the end of their operational lives, the demand for safe, efficient, and standardized dismantling will only grow.
With the international community watching, South Korea’s new standard is set to become a benchmark for the industry, potentially reshaping the global nuclear landscape for decades to come.