Small modular reactors (SMRs) have emerged as an important, carbon-free energy source in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), where the explosive growth of data centers requires an unprecedented amount of stable power. In response to such shifts in energy demands, Korea is set to introduce a preliminary review system designed to streamline the commercial development and deployment of SMRs starting later this month. The system will allow SMR developers to undergo safety and design verifications before formal licensing. It has already been adopted in countries such as the United States and Canada. With less than a month to go ahead of the system's launch, around ten companies — both from home and abroad — have expressed their intent to apply, with some considering making a submission immediately after the system takes effect, the head of the country's nuclear watchdog said. "There are a few SMR developers saying they will apply as soon as the preliminary review system is launched," Choi Won-ho, the head of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), said in an interview wit