Korea Showcases Science and Technology to Diplomatic Corps in Korea... Questions Pour In About SMRs

NST to Hold Monthly Science and Technology Exchanges with Diplomatic Corps in Korea, Identify Opportunities for International Cooperation
First Topic: Nuclear Energy in the AI Era; Questions on SMRs, Joint Research and Nuclear Power Plant Plans
Second Event with KIST Set for the 12th of Next Month; Share Government-Funded Institutes' Research Achievements with the World

A regular forum has been established to introduce Korea's science and technology to members of the diplomatic corps in Korea and explore opportunities for international cooperation. From the inaugural event, attendees showed strong interest, asking questions about small modular reactor (SMR) technology, international joint research and Korea's plans for nuclear power plant construction.

Choi Giyong (top right), director of the Nuclear Safety Basis Research Institute at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, presents an overview of nuclear R&D and small modular reactors (SMRs). Photo by Paek Jongmin, Tech Specialist.

The National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), together with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), held the inaugural "Good Morning, Science" event at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on October 7. Sixty people, including science and technology officials from foreign diplomatic missions in Korea, attended.

The event was established to bring foreign diplomatic missions and government-funded research institutes together regularly to share Korea's science and technology policies and research achievements and identify areas for cooperation.

The inaugural theme was "The Future of Nuclear Energy in the AI Era." Focusing on SMRs, KAERI explained the development of diverse reactor technologies for not only electricity generation but also high-temperature heat supply for industry and use aboard ships.

Reflecting the strong interest countries have in SMRs as a next-generation energy source in the AI era, attendees raised a range of questions. An official from the EU Delegation to Korea asked about the possibility of expanding cooperation in Euratom research, following Korea's participation in Horizon Europe. An official from the Swedish Embassy asked what share of KAERI's budget goes to international joint research. Honduras's Ambassador Viviane de Pierrefeu Midence thanked the organizers for explaining complex nuclear technology in an accessible way.

NST plans to hold Good Morning, Science events monthly to share major research achievements from government-funded research institutes and discuss international cooperation issues. The second event will be held on November 12 at the Korea Science and Technology Center, in partnership with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

Hwang Seong-hoon, Director General for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "As science and technology are at the center of bilateral and multilateral discussions, I hope this event will become a platform for introducing Korea's science and technology and identifying areas for cooperation."

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