First 100 kW Reactor Introduced in 1959
Seven Technology Exports Including the UAE
Milestone in Expanding to Medical Infrastructure
Recognized as a Case of Korea-U.S. Technology Cooperation
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute consortium has secured a contract to design the next-generation research reactor (researchro) for the University of Missouri in the United States, making Korea a country that has re-exported technology back to the U.S. 66 years after introducing research reactors there. This development is expected to not only resolve sensitive issues related to the U.S. but also serve as a catalyst for nuclear power plant exports.
The government and the scientific community attach great significance to this reverse export to the U.S. Korea began its nuclear research and development (R&D) in 1959 by importing the first reactor, the 100 kW-scale "Triga Mark-2," from General Atomics in the U.S. Since then, Korea has grown into a nuclear powerhouse by achieving milestones such as exporting nuclear power plants to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and being selected as the preferred bidder for nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic.
Lee Chang-yoon, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, evaluated on the 17th during a briefing that "It is significant that Korean nuclear research, which started with support from the U.S., has been re-exported to the U.S. through continuous investment and R&D."
This is seen as an example of the scientific and technological cooperation between Korea and the U.S. Vice Minister Lee said, "It is significant in terms of the Korea-U.S. technology alliance," adding, "It also became an opportunity to contribute to the peaceful use of nuclear power and the international community through nuclear non-proliferation research reactor design."
There were concerns that the designation of Korea as a sensitive country by the U.S. Department of Energy might disrupt cooperation in developing export-oriented research reactor technology, but these concerns are expected to be partially alleviated.
From an industrial and economic perspective, opportunities for nuclear power plant exports are expected to increase. In the research reactor field, since the design of the multipurpose research reactor "Hanaro" in 1985, Korea first exported reactor design technology in 2009 to improve the performance of Greece's 5 MW-class "GRR-1." Since then, including the recent University of Missouri contract, a total of seven technology export achievements have been recorded. Inside and outside the government, this export is seen as a chance for Korea to expand its research reactor market.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as of this month, there are a total of 847 registered research reactors, with 227 reactors operating in 54 countries. Although the construction cost per unit ranges from $200 million to $1 billion and is not very large, most existing research reactors are over 40 years old, making this a steady market for replacement, improvement, and equipment expansion, as well as derivative technology demand.
The research reactor supplied to the University of Missouri will be used for cancer treatment, marking an important milestone for Korean nuclear technology in expanding the U.S. medical infrastructure.
According to local media, the University of Missouri plans to install an additional 20 MW reactor to triple the production of radioactive isotopes compared to the existing 10 MW reactor. This process will significantly increase the supply of radioactive isotopes essential for cancer treatment, such as Lutetium-177.
The University of Missouri reactor is the only facility in the U.S. that produces Lutetium-177. Cho Min-su, head of the National Radiation Emergency Medical Center at the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, explained, "Therapies using Lutetium-177 are highly anticipated in the field of neuroendocrine cancers." It is currently reported that the global pharmaceutical company Novartis has developed treatments using Lutetium-177.
Mun Choi, President of the University of Missouri, expressed his expectations to local media, saying, "460,000 Americans have saved their lives thanks to discoveries at our university. The reactor expansion will allow more patients to benefit."
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute consortium plans to pursue additional orders based on this export. Im In-cheol, Deputy Director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, who attended the briefing, said, "We plan to negotiate the basic design with the University of Missouri," adding, "We will also pursue various other research projects in the global nuclear market."
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to prepare a "Research Reactor Export Activation Strategy" in June. Additionally, from this year until 2029, it has started the "Overseas Demand-Based Research Reactor Core Technology Integration Platform Construction Project," investing 32 billion won to develop a high-performance multipurpose research reactor basic model.
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