"-253℃ to 2000℃ Extreme Materials to Be Tested Domestically... 346.2 Billion Won Demonstration Infrastructure Begins in Earnest"

The establishment of infrastructure to directly test "extreme materials"-core materials for aerospace, hydrogen, and defense sectors-within Korea is now underway. This marks a significant step toward securing technological sovereignty, as the nation moves away from reliance on overseas facilities for testing in ultra-high-temperature and ultra-low-temperature environments.

On April 29, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it will co-host the "Extreme Materials Demonstration Research Infrastructure and R&D Strategy Symposium" with the Korea Institute of Materials Science at the Jeju International Convention Center. This event will be held in conjunction with the 2026 Spring Conference of the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials, and will bring together over 100 experts from industry, academia, research institutes, and abroad.

Infrastructure that enables domestic verification of extreme materials, which are core materials that determine the performance and reliability of future strategic technology core systems such as aerospace, hydrogen, defense, and energy, will be actively established. The photo shows the successful launch scene of Nuriho. Provided by Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

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This symposium is being held as the "Extreme Materials Demonstration Research Infrastructure Establishment Project," with a total budget of 346.2 billion won, enters full-scale implementation. It is expected to serve as a starting point for concretizing strategies for infrastructure utilization and research and development (R&D) directions moving forward.

Through this project, the government plans to build six research facilities and install 184 pieces of equipment across 44 types at the Jinhae Advanced Industrial Research Complex in Changwon, Gyeongnam. These facilities will be capable of simulating ultra-high, ultra-low, and other specific extreme environments. The project will be carried out from 2023 to 2031, with construction and equipment installation entering full swing from 2026.

Extreme materials are key elements that determine the performance and reliability of future strategic industries, such as aerospace, energy, hydrogen, and defense. However, due to a lack of domestic infrastructure for verifying materials and components under real-world operating conditions, companies and research institutes in Korea have thus far depended on overseas testing and evaluation.

Once this infrastructure is established, it will be possible to directly test material performance domestically under ultra-high temperatures of around 2,000℃, ultra-low temperatures down to -253℃, and even under complex extreme conditions.

The demonstration infrastructure to be established will be utilized across various industrial sectors. For aircraft engines and gas turbine components, it will enable verification of thermal shock resistance and durability in environments above 1,000℃. For liquid hydrogen storage and transportation materials, it will allow evaluation of brittleness and safety at ultra-low temperatures.

Additionally, the scope of safety verification for defense structures, such as fighter jet canopies, against high-speed impacts will be expanded. Notably, the field of liquid hydrogen remains an area where international testing standards have yet to be established, meaning that securing leading-edge infrastructure is expected to provide a first-mover advantage.

Starting with this symposium, the government plans to accelerate the creation of demonstration environments that reflect industrial demand. Oh Daehyun, Director of Future Strategic Technology Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "Based on the opinions of industry, academia, and research institutes, we will further specify strategies for utilizing demonstration research and R&D directions." He added, "We will reduce dependence on overseas facilities in the field of extreme materials and establish a foundation for direct testing within Korea."

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