Minister Hoon Bae of Science and ICT: "Will Carefully Review Private Contract with POSCO E&C for Synchrotron Accelerator"

Impact of Consecutive Worker Fatalities

Minister Hoon Bae of the Ministry of Science and ICT has stated that he will closely review the possibility of awarding a private contract to POSCO E&C for the construction of the synchrotron accelerator infrastructure project being developed by the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province.

Minister Hoon Bae of the Ministry of Science and ICT is speaking at a forum to promote basic science research at Chungbuk National University on the 7th. Photo by Jongmin Baek, Tech Specialist

On the afternoon of the 7th, during his visit to Chungbuk National University in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Minister Bae was asked about his stance on the synchrotron accelerator. He responded, "We will make efforts to ensure its operation by 2029," but also added, "We will carefully consider whether POSCO E&C should be awarded the infrastructure project."

The Ochang synchrotron accelerator is a long-awaited project in North Chungcheong Province, with an investment of approximately 1 trillion won. Although Ochang has been selected as the site for the synchrotron accelerator, the project has faced obstacles from the infrastructure construction stage. This is because the only consortium to participate in the 240.5 billion won infrastructure construction bid was POSCO E&C. The prevailing view in the scientific community is that companies are reluctant to participate due to the project's low profitability.

As the bidding process has repeatedly failed, there has been speculation that KBSI may pursue a private contract with POSCO E&C. However, after a series of serious industrial accidents resulting in worker deaths at POSCO E&C, and with President Lee Jaemyung instructing officials to consider revoking the company's construction license, the Ministry of Science and ICT, which oversees the synchrotron accelerator project, has also shifted to a more cautious stance.

Nevertheless, as Minister Bae has emphasized the importance of the synchrotron accelerator project, it is necessary to consider measures to ensure the project's progress as planned.

The multipurpose synchrotron accelerator, often referred to as the "microscope of dreams," is a core scientific and technological infrastructure that enables the observation and analysis of the microstructure of materials.