"Even if designated as a sensitive country, Korea-US science and technology cooperation remains smooth"

Initial Design Contract Worth 10 Million Dollars, Additional Orders Expected
"Achievement in the US, the Pioneer of Nuclear Power, Holds Great Industrial and Economic Significance"

Lee Chang-yoon, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized on the 17th that "even though Korea has been designated as a sensitive country, science and technology cooperation between Korea and the United States will proceed smoothly."

Vice Minister Lee made this remark during a briefing on the achievements related to the signing of the initial design contract for the first phase of the 'Next-Generation Research Reactor Project,' commissioned by the University of Missouri through an international competitive bidding, by a consortium consisting of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Hyundai Engineering, and the US company MPR. He stated, "We are continuously strengthening science and technology cooperation with the United States."

Lee Chang-yoon, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, is answering questions during a performance briefing on the contract signing for the initial design phase of the 'Next-Generation Research Reactor Project,' the first stage of an international competitive bid issued by the University of Missouri, by a consortium consisting of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Hyundai Engineering, and the US company MPR, on the 17th. Photo by the Ministry of Science and ICT

Joo Han-gyu, President of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, who participated in the briefing via video from the United States, said, "Around the enforcement of the sensitive country designation on the 14th, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Argonne National Laboratory under the US Department of Energy and also concluded a research reactor export contract. In the US, the sensitive country issue does not seem to be a problem at all," adding, "I think there is no need to react so sensitively to the sensitive country designation domestically."

This contract is the first phase for the University of Missouri to construct a new high-performance research reactor with a thermal output of 20 MW (megawatts) for the production of medical radioactive isotopes and other purposes. The initial design phase involves analyzing preliminary design information such as construction site conditions and environmental impact assessments before the conceptual design of the research reactor.

Lim In-cheol, Deputy Director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, who attended the briefing via video, explained, "The scale of the initial design contract is about 10 million dollars (approximately 14.2 billion KRW), and it is expected to increase as it progresses to the next phases."

The success of this contract also raises expectations for additional nuclear power plant orders. Deputy Director Lim said, "The University of Missouri is discussing moving forward with contracts for the next phases, including conceptual and basic design," adding, "If we can satisfy them through this project, I think we can smoothly secure the subsequent contracts as well."

He also mentioned, "Countries in Africa have shown interest in our research reactors," and added, "If news of the contract with the US spreads and various atmospheres are formed, there is a possibility of securing other projects."

Notably, seven companies participated in this bidding, most of which were American companies, which is significant.

Vice Minister Lee said, "Achieving technology export results in the US market, the pioneer of nuclear power, holds great significance not only as a pure science and technology achievement but also in terms of the Korea-US technology alliance and industrial economic aspects," adding, "At a time when the global research reactor export market is expected to expand, this contract is a green light for us to emerge as a leading country in research reactor exports."