[In-Depth Look] A New Path Toward Future Energy

When the new year comes, one is reminded of the masterpiece "La Strada" by the great director Federico Fellini. Set in the Italian countryside, the traveling circus strongman Zampan? takes the innocent girl Gelsomina as his assistant. One day, after a trivial quarrel, Zampan? kills an acrobat, and when the simple-hearted Gelsomina, who witnessed the incident, shows signs of mental disturbance, he abandons her and runs away. As time passes and the melody Gelsomina sang is heard again, Zampan? thinks of her, but she has already embarked on a path from which she can never return.

Although it was a black-and-white film made in 1957, the performances of Giulietta Masina and Anthony Quinn create iconic scenes. It is filled with the unique charm of silent films that silently show human emotions and actions. Director Fellini conveys a profound theme of finding the path of life on the roads people travel?much like asking for directions on the road.

In the small southern French town of Cadarache, there is another path. It is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Here, a massive research and development project is underway to jointly build an international nuclear fusion reactor to address the risks of fossil fuel depletion and environmental issues. To preserve the plasma generated during the nuclear fusion process, a donut-shaped magnetic device called a tokamak is being constructed. This is a new path. ITER, which is building a large-scale reactor never before seen, means "path" in Latin.

ITER was officially established on October 24, 2007. The European Union, the United States, Japan, Russia, as well as South Korea, India, and China participate as member countries. The goal of ITER is to create a large nuclear fusion reactor like an artificial sun and, in the long term, to produce clean electricity. Therefore, the core focus is to experiment with and validate the technologies necessary for operating a nuclear fusion power plant, including fusion, control and diagnostic systems, and remote maintenance.

The ITER complex began construction in 2013, and tokamak assembly started in 2020. The initial budget was close to 6 billion euros, but the total cost of construction and operation is estimated to reach up to 65 billion euros. The ITER project is said to be the most expensive scientific experiment in human history. It is also the most complex engineering project and one of the most ambitious international cooperative ventures.

There are concerns as this project has been somewhat delayed compared to the original plan. However, it is noteworthy that about ten years after South Korea joined the ITER project, Korean scientists have taken key positions, and over 50 technicians are stationed there. This recognition of South Korea’s technological capabilities and leadership comes from participating in humanity’s largest project involving advanced countries worldwide.

The word "path" has two meanings. Besides referring to a space where people walk, it also implies a method or means. If Zampan? asked about the value of life in the film La Strada, many scientists and engineers at ITER are now seeking a new scientific path. This path, never traveled before, is filled with noble efforts to solve humanity’s common problems. As the new year begins, we send our applause and support to the Korean technicians who are walking this new path.

Kim Young-woo, Research Fellow, Institute for Shared Growth