- Vice Minister Koo Hyuk Chae attends the Global Fusion Policy Summit, co-hosted by the United Kingdom and the United States.
- Discussions focus on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with leading countries in fusion technology in the areas of technology, regulation, and industry.
【Relevant National Policy Agenda】 26. System Innovation to Make Korea One of the World's Top Five Science and Technology Powers
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon) announced that Vice Minister Hyuk Chae Koo attended the Global Fusion Policy Summit in London, United Kingdom, on Monday, September 14, as head of the Korean delegation, where he discussed expanding the foundation for bilateral and multilateral cooperation with leading countries in fusion energy, including the United Kingdom and the United States.
※ Date/Time and Venue: September 14 (Monday), 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (local time) / Mansion House, London, United Kingdom
Key Participants: (UK) Michael Shanks, Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; (US) Dario Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy; (International Organization) Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and others
The summit, jointly hosted by the UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), brought together representatives from governments*, research institutions, companies, and investment institutions involved in fusion energy to discuss policy and regulatory directions and international cooperation aimed at accelerating the commercialization of fusion energy.
* A total of nine countries participated: U.S., U.K., Korea, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Finland.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has designated fusion technology as a key component of both the K-Moonshot program, which aims to tackle major scientific and technological challenges through AI-driven innovation, and the seven SEED projects, which seek to secure Korea's future growth engines, underscoring the importance of fusion power generation. MSIT is also providing full support to accelerate fusion technology development, with the goals of developing an innovative Korean fusion reactor and demonstrating electricity generation in the 2030s.
In this regard, the MSIT has been expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation with international partners in the field of nuclear fusion to bring forward the timeline for the commercialization of fusion energy. A notable example is Korea’s participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project under the Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (commonly known as the ITER Agreement), which entered into force in 2007. Since then, the MSIT has stepped up efforts to advance Korea’s fusion technology capabilities through international cooperation. These efforts include supplying key components for the ITER Project, such as superconductor and vacuum vessel components, and securing additional contracts and agreements. The MSIT has also strengthened bilateral cooperation with major partners, including the United States, the European Union, and Japan through regular bilateral meetings, technology exchanges, and joint research projects.
The event brought together representatives from research institutions, regulatory authorities, and industry to discuss ways to expand international cooperation into emerging areas, including regulation and commercialization, with the aim of accelerating the commercialization of nuclear fusion technology. This event also provided an opportunity to broaden the scope of international cooperation beyond its traditional focus on technology development and acquisition.
Koo Hyuk-chae, Vice Minister of Science and ICT met with Michael Shanks, UK Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to discuss bilateral cooperation in nuclear fusion. During the meeting, they highlighted the achievements of Korea-UK joint R&D development, including the joint development of High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets for use in the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)*, the UK’s next-generation fusion demonstration reactor. They also explored potential areas for further cooperation, including developing a regulatory framework tailored to fusion energy and fostering fusion energy industrial ecosystem.
* STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is a next-generation fusion demonstration reactor project led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). It incorporates high-temperature superconducting magnet technology and a spherical tokamak design, with the aim of completing construction and demonstrating electricity generation by 2040.
Meanwhile, Minister Shanks and Dario Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), co-chaired a round-table discussion attended by delegations from around the world. Participants shared updates on their respective national fusion programs, identified priority areas for international cooperation within the next five years, and discussed ways to establish a structured framework for multilateral cooperation to advance joint efforts within that timeframe.
Vice Minister Koo said, “To meet growing electricity demand, we need to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with leading countries, including the United States and United Kingdom, across a wide range of areas in nuclear fusion, from developing and securing key technologies to establishing a fusion-specific legal framework and fostering a fusion energy industrial ecosystem.” He added, “In Particular, I agree with the view expressed at the roundtable that a multilateral dialogue on nuclear fusion is needed. I hope we can continue working together to achieve tangible outcomes in areas such as technology development and the establishment of regulations and standards.”
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
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