Jeollanam-do Speeds Up "Artificial Sun" National Research Facility... Naju Rising as an Energy Hub

Rendering of the Naju Artificial Sun Research Facility. Provided by the Jeollanam-do Provincial Government.

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Jeollanam-do is accelerating efforts to build an "Artificial Sun (nuclear fusion) Research Facility." With the Wanggok-myeon area in Naju confirmed as the final site for the Ministry of Science and ICT's project to develop core fusion technologies and establish advanced infrastructure, Jeollanam-do is rapidly emerging as a strategic hub for national future energy research.

Jeollanam-do has set passing the government preliminary feasibility study (PFS) scheduled for August 2026 as the first milestone, and is simultaneously working to reinforce the project's feasibility and carry out site development procedures. Leveraging this large-scale national research facility, the province plans to restructure the regional industrial landscape and complete an "energy new industry" ecosystem centered on the Naju Energy Valley.

This project goes beyond the simple construction of a research facility. With a total project cost of about 1 trillion won, it is an ultra-large-scale initiative through which the province expects to attract more than 300 related companies, create over 10,000 jobs, and generate an economic ripple effect exceeding 10 trillion won.

During the construction phase, large-scale civil engineering and building works will proceed, and participation by local construction companies and an expansion in employment are anticipated. Once the facility enters the operational phase, more than 2,000 domestic and international researchers and personnel from advanced materials and components companies are expected to flow in annually, triggering a chain reaction that includes population growth, revitalization of commercial districts, and expansion of residential, educational, and medical infrastructure.

Analyses of previous cases of hosting large national research facilities indicate that the transportation, cultural, and educational environments of the surrounding cities improve, and the value of the city brand rises. Based on this, Jeollanam-do expects to create a virtuous cycle of improved living conditions in the Naju area and increased inflow of talent.

Work to secure the site is also in full swing.

Jeollanam-do and Naju City have begun administrative procedures, including decisions on urban planning facilities, to ensure the timely development of a site totaling 1,034,000 square meters (approximately 310,000 pyeong). In the second half of 2026, they plan to hold briefings for local residents prior to land compensation to gather opinions. The goal is to complete the land grading and preparation work by December 2027.

The immediate priority is passing the preliminary feasibility study. Jeollanam-do aims to secure final approval in the government PFS scheduled for August 2026 by operating an advisory panel of experts in each field, and systematically demonstrating the necessity and feasibility of the project.

Yoo Hyeonho, Director General of the Energy Industry Bureau of Jeollanam-do, said, "The Artificial Sun Research Facility is a strategic opportunity to transform the future industrial landscape of Jeollanam-do," adding, "We will create a global energy new industry ecosystem and deliver tangible results that residents can truly feel."

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