- Completion of vacuum vessel sector procurement, a key component of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

- Early acquisition of critical technologies to accelerate fusion energy demonstration

The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Yoo Sang-im, hereinafter "MSIT") announced on November 22 (Friday) that Korea has successfully completed the manufacturing and delivery of the vacuum vessel sectors, a core component of ITER, for its construction and operation.

This achievement is expected to serve as a foundation for Korea to secure global leadership in core technologies needed for the future construction of demonstration fusion power reactors by mastering the entire process from design and manufacturing to quality control of the vacuum vessel, a key component of fusion reactors.

The ITER vacuum vessel is a key component that sustains the ultra-high-temperature plasma required for nuclear fusion reactions by maintaining a high-vacuum environment. It is composed of nine sectors, four of which are manufactured by Korea. Each sector measures 13.8 meters in height and weighs approximately 400 tons. When all nine sectors are assembled, the structure weighs a total of 5,000 tons.

Each vacuum vessel sector is manufactured in four segments, requiring over 1.6 kilometers of welding for assembly. Maintaining precise tolerances of less than a few millimeters ensures the seamless integration of internal components, which demands advanced forming and welding technologies. These challenges make the vacuum vessel one of the most technically complex components in the ITER project.

Initially, South Korea was tasked with producing two vacuum vessel sectors under its agreement with the ITER Organization. However, in 2016, an additional agreement was made to produce two more sectors originally assigned to the EU, bringing South Korea’s total responsibility to four sectors. As a result, Korean companies secured overseas contracts worth approximately KRW 120 billion and gained international recognition for Korea's outstanding vacuum vessel manufacturing technologies.

In 2020, through close collaboration between MSIT, the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, and domestic companies, Korea successfully delivered the first vacuum vessel sector on time, significantly contributing to the commencement of ITER's main assembly phase. Following this, the second, third, and finally the fourth sectors were successfully delivered in 2021, 2022, and this year, respectively, demonstrating not only high-quality fusion technology but also Korea’s reliability by meeting production deadlines.

In addition to the vacuum vessel, MSIT and the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy have supported domestic industries in successfully procuring key ITER components such as superconductors, thermal shields and assembly tools. These accomplishments are anticipated to advance the realization of fusion energy and solidify Korea's global leadership in the field.

Meanwhile, the ITER Organization held a ceremony on November 21 (Thursday) at its site in Cadarache, France, to celebrate Korea's delivery of the final vacuum vessel sector. Approximately 200 representatives from seven member countries attended the event, including Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER Organization, and Hwang Pan-sik, Deputy Minister for the Office of R&D Policy of MSIT, to commemorate this significant milestone in ITER’s construction.

MSIT Vice Minister Lee Chang-yune stated,

“We will leverage the core fusion reactor technologies and manufacturing capabilities acquired through our participation in the ITER project to secure leadership in the future demonstration fusion power reactor market and strengthen our global influence. Furthermore, we will actively implement the ‘Strategy to Accelerate Nuclear Fusion Energy Realization,' established on July 22, to ensure that fusion energy becomes a reality through proactive technology development and industrial growth policies.”

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. 

Please refer to the attached PDF.