Korea Completes Core of World's Largest Fusion Reactor... ITER Main Component Installation Finished

Production of Four Vacuum Vessels—Twice the Initial Allocation

Showcasing Korea's Fusion Technology Capabilities

Core Facility Confining 100 Million Degree Plasma

Laying the Foundation for Commercial Fusion Energy in the 2030s

Korea has once again demonstrated its global fusion technology capabilities by virtually completing the manufacturing and installation of the vacuum vessel, a core component of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)—the world's largest fusion project.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on July 22 that, at the ITER construction site in Cadarache, France, Korea successfully completed the assembly and Tokamak pit installation of the last vacuum vessel sector module, for which Korea led the manufacturing process.

At the construction site of the international nuclear fusion experimental reactor ITER in Cadarache, France, the Tokamak main body and the vacuum vessel sector module, in which Korea participated in manufacturing, are being assembled. The vacuum vessel is a key facility of the ITER nuclear fusion reactor that confines ultra-high-temperature plasma exceeding 100 million degrees. Provided by ITER Organization

The vacuum vessel is a core facility of ITER, confining ultra-high temperature plasma exceeding 100 million degrees. Nine sector modules, each measuring 11.3 meters in height, 6.6 meters in width, and weighing about 400 tons, are linked together to form the donut-shaped fusion reactor. As it must withstand extreme temperatures and ultra-high vacuum environments, the vacuum vessel is considered one of the most technically challenging devices to manufacture in ITER.

Korea not only produced the two modules it was originally assigned but also secured orders for two additional modules allocated to the European Union (EU), manufacturing a total of four modules. This achievement is seen as proof that domestic companies have acquired world-class capabilities to manufacture and assemble large-scale fusion devices on-site.

To commemorate this accomplishment, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the ITER Organization held the “KOREA-ITER Fusion Day” event on the same day. The event was attended by Kim Sungsoo, policy chief of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER Organization, representatives from participating Korean companies including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, officials from the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, and approximately 150 other participants.

Kim Sungsoo, policy chief of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “The installation of this vacuum vessel sector module is a symbolic achievement that showcases Korea's fusion technology on the world stage,” adding, “Through the ITER project, we will secure the core technologies needed to realize fusion energy in the 2030s and further strengthen the global competitiveness of domestic industries.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.