'1 Trillion Won Project Budget' Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator Candidate Sites Narrowed Down to Naju, Jeonnam and Cheongju, Chungbuk

▲Pohang University of Science and Technology Accelerator Laboratory and Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator. The long structure extending in the background is the Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator, which is approximately 1.1 km in length. [Photo by Pohang University of Science and Technology]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Naju City in Jeollanam-do and Cheongju City in Chungcheongbuk-do have been selected as the final candidate sites for the 4th generation synchrotron radiation accelerator construction project, with a project cost reaching 1 trillion won. The Ministry of Science and ICT will select one of these locations as the project site and announce it on the 8th.

On the 6th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that among the four local governments hoping to attract the synchrotron radiation accelerator?Chuncheon City in Gangwon, Pohang City in Gyeongbuk, Naju City in Jeonnam, and Cheongju City in Chungbuk?Naju and Cheongju were selected as the candidate sites.

Naju in Jeonnam proposed that the accelerator should be hosted in the Honam region to promote regional balanced development. They anticipated that linking with Honam region universities such as GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology), Chonnam National University, Jeonbuk National University, and the soon-to-be-established Korea Electric Power Corporation University would yield research outcomes.

Cheongju in Chungbuk emphasized its location, which is easily accessible from anywhere nationwide, and its excellent transportation network. They also highlighted the proximity of research infrastructure such as Osong Bio-Health Science Industrial Complex and Daedeok Research Complex.

The 4th generation synchrotron radiation accelerator is equipment that accelerates material particles to the speed of light and observes their movement at the femto (one quadrillionth) second scale. It is used in research such as new material discovery and semiconductors. Currently, 3rd and 4th generation synchrotron radiation accelerators are installed in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, but there have been concerns that these two units are insufficient to meet researchers' demands.

Following Japan's export restrictions on South Korea last year, the project was promoted on a scale of 1 trillion won (800 billion won from the government and 200 billion won from local governments) to enhance competitiveness in domestic materials, parts, and equipment research and development (R&D).

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to conduct on-site inspections of the two candidate sites on the 7th and finalize and announce the project site on the morning of the 8th. After selecting the site, they plan to apply for a preliminary feasibility study within this year and start the project by 2022 at the latest.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.