14 Nuclear Societies and Associations Urge Protection of Korea's First Research Reactor

KRR-1 Reactor Hall Provisionally Registered as a National Cultural Heritage

Demolition Possible If KEPCO, the Owner, Does Not Apply for Official Registration

KEPCO: "Reviewing Multiple Issues Including HR Development Center’s Property Rights"

Reactor Body Was Officially Registered as a Cultural Asset in 2013

Overview of KRR-1, Korea's first research reactor. National Heritage Administration

On September 1, fourteen academic societies and associations, including the Korean Nuclear Society, stated, "We welcome the provisional registration of the 'Korea Research Reactor-1 (KRR-1, TRIGA Mark-II) reactor hall and annex buildings,' located in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, as a National Registered Cultural Heritage. We urge Korea Electric Power Corporation, the owner of the site and buildings, to promptly apply for official National Registered Cultural Heritage status."

The KRR-1 reactor hall and annex buildings have had scheduled demolition suspended since July 1, when the National Heritage Administration registered them as a provisional National Registered Cultural Heritage through the emergency measure system. However, if an official registration application is not filed by the end of December this year, the provisional registration will lapse and demolition could resume.

The relevant societies and associations emphasized that "this is not a definitive preservation, but merely a temporary postponement of demolition," and called for a swift decision.

KRR-1 is the nation's first research reactor, imported from General Atomics with American assistance in 1959. It began operation in 1962 and, until its shutdown in 1995, served for 33 years as the foundation for nuclear science research in Korea, the production of medical and industrial radioisotopes, the development of reactor operation technology, and the training of specialized personnel.

The technology and workforce that originated from KRR-1 later contributed to the independent development of the HANARO research reactor, the export of a research reactor to Jordan, as well as the development of the APR1400 and the export of nuclear power plants abroad.

In 2013, the reactor body of KRR-1 was officially registered as a National Registered Cultural Heritage due to its historical significance. However, the reactor hall and annex buildings surrounding the reactor were excluded from registration at that time.

The related societies and associations have maintained that keeping only the reactor body would not adequately convey the historical and educational value of KRR-1. They argue that preservation should include not only the reactor but also the operational space, control room, shielding walls, and neutron beamlines, in order to properly demonstrate the research and educational environment of the era.

The KRR-1 building also holds architectural significance, as it was designed by Kim Joong-up, a leading figure in modern Korean architecture.

The societies and associations further proposed that KRR-1 should not be simply preserved, but utilized as an educational, exhibition, and public engagement space to showcase the development of Korea's nuclear, energy, and science and technology sectors.

Internationally, early research reactors have already been preserved and utilized as important scientific and technological heritage. In the United States, the EBR-I, which produced the world's first nuclear electricity, and the Oak Ridge Graphite Reactor (X-10) have been preserved as national historical landmarks. In Japan, the country's first research reactor, JRR-1, has been maintained as an exhibition facility, with areas such as the actual control room used for education and experiential learning.

In response to calls from the nuclear societies and associations, Korea Electric Power Corporation stated, "The Reactor No. 1 was officially designated as a cultural asset in 2013. The registration of the annex buildings as cultural assets may restrict the property rights of the KEPCO Human Resources Development Center, and therefore various issues are still being reviewed."

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