South Korea and U.S. Strengthen Next-Generation Nuclear Technology Cooperation

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and University of Missouri Sign Cooperation Agreement
Expanding Joint Research and Personnel Exchange Following Export of Research Reactor Design to the U.S.

South Korea is strengthening next-generation research reactor technology cooperation with the United States, the birthplace of nuclear power.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute announced on October 27 that it had signed a "Nuclear Research and Development Cooperation Agreement" with the University of Missouri at its main campus in Daejeon. This agreement was prompted by South Korea's winning of the initial design project for the University of Missouri's next-generation research reactor (NextGen MURR) in April this year.

Research Reactor 'Hanaro'. Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT

The contract for designing the University of Missouri's research reactor marks the first time that nuclear technology has been exported back to the United States, and is regarded as a testament to the international competitiveness of South Korea's nuclear technology. The project was awarded to a consortium led by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, with participation from Hyundai Engineering and U.S.-based MPR Associates.

Through this agreement, the two institutions will conduct joint research in six fields: reactor technology, instrumentation systems, radioisotopes, neutron beams, materials, and advanced computing. They also agreed to operate personnel exchanges and joint training programs, share research facilities, and collaborate on test evaluations and the planning of international joint research projects. By sharing research reactor design and operation experience as well as experimental infrastructure, they plan to expand practical cooperation.

To sign this agreement, a delegation from the University of Missouri, including President Mun Y. Choi, Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives Jonathan Paterson, and Chairman of the University of Missouri Board of Curators Todd Graves, visited South Korea. The delegation also attended the 16th Truman Conference, hosted by the University of Missouri Alumni Association in Korea, held at the National Assembly on October 24.

Gu Hyukchae, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT, stated at the signing ceremony, "It is symbolic that South Korea, which once received nuclear technology assistance from the United States, now stands as an equal partner in the development of next-generation research reactors. Just as both countries built Korea's first research reactor together half a century ago, we will now design the next generation of research reactors together and write a new chapter in technological history."

Joo Hankyu, President of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, commented, "This agreement goes beyond simple exchanges and serves as an opportunity to establish a sustainable model for technological cooperation following the export of research reactor design. Based on the trust between South Korea and the United States, we will continue to broaden the scope of our collaboration."

Mun Y. Choi, President of the University of Missouri, also stated, "The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute is an institution with world-class expertise in reactor design and experimental research. I expect this agreement to become a model case for Korea-U.S. nuclear research and development cooperation."

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