Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held the third meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee with Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček via videoconference on October 20, 2026. The ministers reviewed progress on the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project. They also discussed strengthening nuclear power cooperation and how to respond to the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act in relation to nuclear power.

The two sides confirmed that the project has progressed on schedule to date. They reviewed the timeline and plans for meeting key milestones on time, including submitting applications for permits and licenses in the Czech Republic. They also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the Korean and Czech nuclear industries, both on the Dukovany project and in the global nuclear power market.

Minister Kim expressed concern to the Czech side that discussions on the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, announced in March 2026, were moving toward excessive restrictions on non-EU countries’ participation in the EU nuclear power market. He emphasized that, with the EU’s nuclear supply chain weakened, cooperation with countries that have strong supply chains, such as Korea, is essential for nuclear power plant construction plans in the Czech Republic and other EU countries to proceed without disruption. As Korea–Czech nuclear power cooperation develops into a broader partnership encompassing advanced industries and other sectors, he asked the Czech Republic to continue its diplomatic efforts within the EU to ensure that the proposed Act does not hinder bilateral cooperation.

The two sides agreed to hold the fourth meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee in Korea before the end of 2026. They also plan to organize business-to-business events alongside the meeting to strengthen cooperation between the Korean and Czech nuclear industries and generate a range of meaningful outcomes.

At the third meeting of the Committee, Minister Kim also commented on Temelín Units 3 and 4, whose development is currently under consideration by the Czech government. “Large-scale nuclear power plants will be needed to support the development of the Czech Republic’s advanced industries,” Minister Kim said. He expressed hope that the Korea–Czech nuclear power partnership would continue at Temelín Units 3 and 4, following Dukovany. He added, “Continued meetings of the Dukovany Steering Committee are particularly meaningful because they allow both countries to share information transparently and jointly explore ways to ensure the smooth implementation and further development of bilateral nuclear power cooperation.”