Busan Gijang-gun Urges Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute for Swift Promotion of Export-Oriented New Research Reactor

County Governor Oh Gyuseok: "The Southeast Radiation Medical and Science Industrial Complex is a Key National Project... It Must Not Be Delayed Further"

On the 15th, Oh Gyu-seok, the head of Gijang County (left), visited the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in Daejeon and requested Park Won-seok, the director (right), to cooperate for the swift advancement of the national project, "Development and Demonstration Project of Export-oriented New Research Reactor."

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan’s Gijang-gun is working tirelessly at the beginning of the new year to realize a national project that attracts export-oriented advanced research reactor development and demonstration projects to the ‘Southeast Radiation Medical and Science General Industrial Complex.’

Gijang-gun Mayor Oh Gyu-seok rolled up his sleeves and took the lead. On the 15th, Mayor Oh visited the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the project’s main institution.

Following a meeting with Ministry of Strategy and Finance officials, including the Budget Office Director on the 12th, Mayor Oh actively requested the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute to expedite the delayed advanced research reactor project on this day.

Mayor Oh met with Park Won-seok, Director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and Kim Min-hwan, Acting Head of the Advanced Research Reactor Demonstration Project Group, to discuss the progress and future plans of the advanced research reactor development project.

At the meeting, he conveyed the intention to advance the project schedule as much as possible to ensure swift project progress and to make every effort to secure project funds and smoothly proceed with construction procedures, given the delays in the advanced research reactor project.

Mayor Oh emphasized, “The advanced research reactor development project is a long-cherished wish of the people of Gijang-gun, who were selected as the project site in 2010 after fierce competition among nine local governments following a Ministry of Science and ICT public contest.”

He also said, “It is a core project directly related to attracting companies involved in national projects within the Southeast industrial complex and can determine the success or failure of the complex.”

Park Won-seok, Director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, expressed his commitment to “do his best to complete the advanced research reactor project as soon as possible.” In response, Mayor Oh said, “If local government support is needed for project promotion, we will actively consider and provide support.”

The advanced research reactor development project aims to stabilize domestic supply and promote overseas export of radioactive isotopes by utilizing export-oriented advanced research reactors.

It is a major national project promoted to create new industries by expanding the semiconductor industry scale and enhancing research and development through neutron doping services.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute are leading the project, with Busan City and Gijang-gun jointly promoting it. The total project cost is 438.9 billion KRW, with 398.9 billion KRW from the national government, 20 billion KRW from Busan City, and 20 billion KRW from Gijang-gun.

As a global shortage of isotopes for cancer diagnosis occurred, the project was initiated due to the need to secure isotope production facilities to ensure self-sufficiency of medical and industrial radioactive isotopes, which have been dependent on imports.

The Ministry of Science and ICT held a public contest for the ‘Export-Oriented Advanced Research Reactor Development and Demonstration Project’ site, and after fierce competition among nine local governments nationwide, Gijang-gun was selected in 2010.

Mayor Oh Gyu-seok stated, “The Southeast Radiation Medical and Science Industrial Complex, where the advanced research reactor will be installed, is a project led by Gijang-gun, which is investing 319.7 billion KRW out of the total 428.7 billion KRW project cost, making it difficult to find a similar case at the basic local government level.”

Mayor Oh added, “In addition to the advanced research reactor development project, the Southeast industrial complex is promoting major national projects such as the heavy ion accelerator, establishment of a radioactive isotope fusion research infrastructure, and the power semiconductor industry cluster creation project. With the cultivation of related small and medium-sized enterprises, it will become a mecca of the future industrial revolution that creates future growth industries for South Korea, surpassing Gijang-gun.”

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