[Reading Science] Electric Bill Increase and Budget Cuts Threaten Closure of Major Research Facilities One After Another

Heavy Ion Accelerator, Fusion Experimental Reactor, Hanaro, Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator, etc.
"Severe disruption in operation due to lack of funds"
"Critical blow from cuts to basic R&D"

"Adding insult to injury." This is the lament of government-funded research institutes operating major national large-scale research facilities such as accelerators, nuclear reactors, and fusion reactors. Following the burden caused by the sharp increase in electricity rates that materialized last year, the recent government budget cuts citing a "cartel" have caused serious disruptions to the normal missions of key research facilities.

Heavy Ion Accelerator (RAON). Photo by IBS

First, the problem lies with the Rare Isotope Accelerator complex for ON-line experiment (RAON), into which 1.5 trillion won has been invested. The first phase, the low-speed section (one-tenth the speed of light, approximately 30,000 km/s), was completed at the end of last year, but except for one beam demonstration extraction this year, it has barely operated due to insufficient operating funds. On the morning of the 14th, Han In-sik, head of the Rare Isotope Research Division at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), revealed this fact at a seminar held at Seoul Station for the Science Journalists Association. According to Han, RAON successfully conducted a beam demonstration extraction after a trial operation from March to May this year, but has not been operational since due to electricity bill shortages and repairs of auxiliary equipment.

Next year poses an even bigger problem. The government has drastically cut the national research and development (R&D) budget by 16.6% for next year, delivering a fatal blow to RAON, which is preparing for full-scale operation. Han said, "Originally, we planned to allow researchers to conduct experiments using beam extraction for three months next year, but due to budget cuts, I heard that even one month cannot be guaranteed." He explained, "After more than 10 years of construction and preparation, we are now approaching the summit, but the budget instability at this critical time inevitably causes greater damage than any other research institute."

Han expressed deep concern about the government's policy to cut basic science R&D budgets. He said, "No advanced country cuts basic science research budgets so drastically all at once." He added, "South Korea has come this far by valuing science and technology, but this philosophy itself is fatal to scientists." He especially warned that it would cause young scientists to leave research fields, leaving irreversible wounds on Korean basic science. Han pointed out, "If research funds decrease and we cannot hire people for one to two years, young scientists will leave and not return. Such a gap is truly fatal and the cuts are not recoverable." He also lamented, "When I meet young postdocs these days, they worry about jobs starting next year. Although there are some issues with research fund execution, using that as a pretext to label it a cartel and cut all research funds is hard to accept as a matter of pride."

Han also emphasized the necessity of the second phase of RAON, the high-speed section (50% the speed of light, approximately 150,000 km/s), which is currently undergoing preliminary R&D. He said, "Although the current low-energy section can produce creative world-class research results, this facility has been built and used for various studies in other countries for over 20 years. To win a Nobel Prize, one must produce completely new results or dramatically expand the scope of existing research, which is difficult with only the first phase."

Han Insik, head of the Rare Nuclei Research Group at IBS, is explaining the research principles at the Science Journalists Association seminar held at Seoul Station on the morning of the 14th. Photo by Science Journalists Association.

The situation is similar for another mega research facility, the Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (K-STAR) fusion reactor. According to the scientific community, the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, which operates K-STAR, has faced budget shortages due to recent sharp increases in electricity rates (10% for industrial use, 40% for residential use) and helium gas prices, leading to reductions in some R&D schedules and disruptions in research. Especially with the government planning to cut next year's operating budget by more than 20%, serious problems are expected in R&D conducted through K-STAR operations. A related official complained, "Normally, operating costs are around 7 to 8 billion won, but this year, due to difficulties, research has been scaled back and budgets have been supplemented by reducing other research areas. Next year, we might not be able to operate at all. If it doesn't work, we might have to stop completely."

Other major national research facilities with high power consumption, such as the experimental reactor "Hanaro" operated by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory's synchrotron radiation accelerator, are in similar situations. A science and technology official said, "This year, all these large national R&D facilities have faced disruptions in research schedules due to electricity rate hikes and budget cuts, and with the significant budget reductions for next year becoming a reality, red lights are flashing for planned R&D execution."

Meanwhile, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), which provides national supercomputing services, temporarily suspended operation of 50% of its national data center equipment at the end of last month due to electricity bill shortages, but resumed operations after controversy arose.