Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation Signs MRA with IEEE of the United States to Enhance International Credibility of Nuclear Power Equipment Performance Verification

The Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation (Chairman Kim Sung-jin) formally signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in the field of nuclear power equipment performance verification with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Incorporated (IEEE) on the 14th in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province.

The core of this MRA lies in: both parties mutually recognizing that their respective performance verification certification systems possess equivalent levels of professional competence and quality management capability. Under the agreement, the Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation and IEEE will mutually confirm that each other's performance verification systems continuously maintain the same level. In addition, performance verification organizations reviewed and certified by both institutions will be issued joint certification certificates bearing the logos of the Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation and IEEE as well as MRA-related information.

Nuclear power equipment performance verification refers to the core procedure of confirming that safety-related equipment installed in nuclear power plants can still normally perform the required safety functions when subjected to extreme environments such as earthquakes, high temperature and high pressure, and intense radiation. This process is directly related to the safety performance of nuclear power plants, and therefore the objective management of the professional competence, technical level, and quality assurance systems of verification organizations is of critical importance.

IEEE, as a professional organization that establishes international technical standards in the electrical and electronic fields, has its standards widely applied in the design and performance verification of nuclear power equipment both in Korea and abroad. Particularly in the United States, IEEE operates a dedicated certification system for certain nuclear power equipment performance verification organizations, and possesses extremely high international influence in the field of nuclear power equipment verification.

Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation Chairman Kim Sung-jin stated that through this MRA, the certification system for nuclear power equipment performance verification organizations, which was previously limited to within Korea, has been able to stand on the same level as the internationally renowned IEEE, and that this is an important agreement for Korea to advance into the ranks of globally leading institutions. He expressed hope that by strengthening international cooperation with IEEE, the credibility of nuclear power equipment performance verification conducted both in Korea and abroad will be further enhanced, and ultimately contribute to improving nuclear power safety.