Jeollanam-do Launches Committee to Attract 1 Trillion-Won "Artificial Sun Research Facility"

Over 120 Leaders from Politics, Academia, and Research Join Forces
All-Out Effort to Attract Facility to Naju, the Innovation City
Pledging to Make Naju a Hub for Future Fusion Energy Technology

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, is participating in a ceremony with attendees to wish for the successful attraction of the artificial sun research facility at the launch ceremony of the Artificial Sun Research Facility Attraction Committee held on the 30th at Korea Energy University in Naju. Provided by Jeollanam-do

On October 30, Jeollanam-do announced the launch of the Artificial Sun Research Facility Attraction Committee at Korea Energy University of Technology, in collaboration with Naju City, Korea Energy University of Technology, and various industry, academic, and research institutions.

The launch ceremony was attended by Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do; Yoon Byungtae, Mayor of Naju; Noh Seungjeong, Honorary Professor at Dankook University; Kim Youngsun, President of the Jeonnam Research Institute; as well as over 100 industry, academic, and research representatives. The attendees expressed their commitment to establishing Naju as the center of South Korea’s artificial sun research industry.

The committee comprises about 120 members, including two civilian co-chairs and five executive chairs, as well as incumbent members of the National Assembly, media executives, heads of hometown associations, representatives of civic organizations, university presidents, business leaders, and directors of national research institutes related to science and technology. This broad composition aims to ensure extensive community participation and secure momentum for the initiative.

The co-chairs are Noh Seungjeong, Honorary Professor at Dankook University; Park Wonseok, former President of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do; and Yoon Byungtae, Mayor of Naju.

The executive chairs, who will lead the practical attraction efforts, are Park Jin-ho, Acting President of Korea Energy University of Technology; Na Yongsoo, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Seoul National University; Kim Kiman, Professor at Korea Energy University of Technology; Kim Youngsun, President of the Jeonnam Research Institute; and Kim Jongseok, CEO of Mudeng Ilbo.

Going forward, the committee will play a comprehensive role in attracting the artificial sun research facility to Naju. Its activities will include rallying public support and promoting the necessity of the project, submitting joint proposals to the central government for the facility’s location in Jeollanam-do, collaborating with local universities, businesses, and research institutions, and strengthening cooperation with the government and National Assembly.

During the reading of the resolution, the committee emphasized the necessity of establishing the artificial sun research facility in Jeollanam-do, stating, "The artificial sun is a national strategic technology that will be responsible for humanity’s future energy, and active government support is essential. Attracting the facility to Jeollanam-do will strengthen the nation’s scientific and technological capabilities and contribute to balanced regional development." They further pledged, "We will unite the will of all Jeollanam-do residents and concentrate all our efforts to bring the artificial sun research facility to the province."

Governor Kim Youngrok stated, "The artificial sun is a core technology for Jeollanam-do to become a hub for future fusion energy technology," and emphasized, "Jeollanam-do is the optimal location for fusion research, as it boasts the world-class research infrastructure of Korea Energy University of Technology, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and more than 670 power-related companies."

Jeollanam-do plans to use the launch ceremony as an opportunity to establish a public-private cooperation system for the attraction efforts and will accelerate initiatives to increase resident participation and build consensus in the future.

If the artificial sun research facility is attracted to Jeollanam-do, it is expected to have a significant economic impact on the region, including the attraction of more than 200 companies and the creation of over 10,000 jobs by 2050, through the influx of specialized personnel and the clustering of related businesses.

The government announced the public call for proposals for the artificial sun research facility on October 16 and stated that, following proposal reviews, on-site inspections, and presentation evaluations, the final candidate site for the facility will be selected in November.

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