The Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics Distributes Briefing Materials on the 11th
"Insufficient Materials to Be Secured Next Week, Sample Production and Verification Planned"
"Conclusion Will Be Drawn Based on Comprehensive Domestic and International Verification Results"
It has been confirmed that six research laboratories in South Korea have stepped forward to verify the claim of a domestic venture developing a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor. It is known that the key material, lead sulfate, will be procured next week, and sample production will be completed in two weeks, allowing full-scale verification to take place.
The Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics announced this in a written briefing on the morning of the 11th. The society stated, "The lead sulfate, which had supply issues, will be secured by early next week," adding, "Although each laboratory's circumstances differ, it is expected that reproducible samples will be produced in about two weeks." They continued, "Additionally, Kyung Hee University has agreed to participate in the measurements, and three university laboratories have expressed their intention to join the reproduction group, bringing the total to six participating laboratories." Earlier, on the 2nd, the society formed a verification committee chaired by Professor Chang-Young Kim of Seoul National University to conduct an independent verification. Regarding this, the society explained, "All scientific discoveries undergo a process of mutual verification to reach conclusions. Cross-verification is an essential process to enhance the credibility of the discovery," and added, "If LK-99 is indeed a room-temperature superconductor, quickly confirming this domestically will benefit both the authors and the Korean scientific community."
They further stated, "Given the significant social impact of a room-temperature superconductor, we feel a responsibility to establish appropriate verification procedures," and explained, "We have established judgment criteria and procedures for verification items related to room-temperature superconductivity, and we have begun measurements on the requested samples according to the set procedures. We plan to present opinions based on objective criteria as soon as possible."
Regarding the Quantum Energy Research Institute, which developed LK-99, being uncooperative with the society's verification, the society clarified, "The Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics and the verification committee have not been granted authority to verify scientific facts, so they cannot exercise this without the researcher's consent," and explained, "Whether the researcher accepts the cross-verification procedures provided by the verification committee for the scientific discovery is a matter for the researcher to decide."
The society also stated, "Currently, among the members of the Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics, six laboratories are attempting to reproduce LK-99. If room-temperature superconductivity is confirmed, they have agreed to follow the verification procedures proposed by the verification committee," adding, "These reproduction research groups are conducting reproduction research as part of their own independent research activities. We are closely monitoring the progress and, if necessary, will announce it with the consent of the respective laboratories."
Meanwhile, the society introduced four recently published papers, noting, "Overall, the opinions are negative regarding the room-temperature superconductivity of LK-99," but emphasized, "Our position remains unchanged that no conclusion will be drawn until cross-measurements and reproduction experiments are completed. We intend to make a judgment including not only foreign research results but also our own reproduction research results."
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