Dedicated Teams Established in Succession... All-Out Efforts to Pass the Preliminary Feasibility Study
Ministry of Science and ICT Conducts Technical Evaluation, the First Gateway
Accelerating Site Rezoning and Follow-Up Procedures
Naju City has taken swift administrative action aiming to pass the preliminary feasibility study for the artificial sun research facility. The photo shows the planned site for the artificial sun research facility. Provided by Naju City.
Naju City in South Jeolla Province, in collaboration with the provincial government, has begun the follow-up procedures for the full-scale implementation of the national mega-project, the artificial sun research facility. The city is accelerating the reorganization of a dedicated team and administrative measures with the goal of passing the preliminary feasibility study.
Naju City announced on January 15 that, following its successful bid in December of last year for the “Core Fusion Technology Development and Advanced Infrastructure Construction Project” (hereafter referred to as the artificial sun research facility), it has set the next phase as “Season 2” of the artificial sun initiative and is strengthening its joint response system with South Jeolla Province.
According to Naju City, if the process leading up to securing the artificial sun research facility is considered “Season 1,” the current phase-focusing on responding to the preliminary feasibility study, site development, and administrative procedures-constitutes “Season 2.”
To this end, on January 2, Naju City completed the reorganization of its dedicated team by restructuring the previous Future Strategy Team into the “Artificial Sun Support Team” through its regular personnel appointments for the first half of the year.
South Jeolla Province also reinforced its organization by establishing the “Artificial Sun Foundation TF Team” on January 12. A fifth-grade official from Naju City has been dispatched as the TF team leader.
Together with previously dispatched staff, this official is expected to play a key role in maintaining a close cooperative system between South Jeolla Province and Naju City. This measure is seen as reflecting the importance of the Season 2 implementation schedule.
Currently, the Ministry of Science and ICT is conducting a technical evaluation following the application for the preliminary feasibility study submitted in December of last year. This technical evaluation is the first gateway that determines whether the project will be selected as a target for the preliminary feasibility study. South Jeolla Province and Naju City are providing comprehensive support to the Ministry of Science and ICT to ensure a thorough response.
In addition, to push forward with the artificial sun research facility, the city plans to sequentially begin a feasibility study to change the designated use of the project site to research facilities, as well as a survey of obstacles for land compensation.
Meanwhile, in December of last year, Naju City was selected as the final project site in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s public competition for the “Core Fusion Technology Development and Advanced Infrastructure Construction Project.”
This project is a large-scale national initiative that will invest 1.2 trillion won in government funds from 2028 to 2036 to construct the artificial sun research facility in the Wang-gok-myeon area of Naju City.
Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju City, stated, “The artificial sun research facility is the future growth engine of Naju and a core project that will lead national energy technology. Together with South Jeolla Province, we will swiftly proceed with the follow-up procedures to meet the high expectations of residents in Gwangju and South Jeolla.”
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