On Monday, April 14, Seoul National University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyundai Engineering & Construction for collaboration on the development and commercialization of superconductor-based fusion reactor technology. The signing ceremony was held at Seoul National University’s Gwanak campus, with key figures in attendance, including SNU President Honglim Yoo and Hyundai E&C CEO Hanwoo Lee.

Fusion power technology—often referred to as the “energy of dreams”—is gaining attention as a game-changer in the future energy sector. It has abundant fuel, poses low risk of explosion, and produces minimal emissions and radioactive waste, making it a safe and clean energy source capable of addressing both the explosive power demand driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the goal of carbon neutrality. One of the core technologies of nuclear fusion is maintaining ultra-high-temperature plasma in a stable state for extended periods. To achieve this, a strong magnetic field generated by superconducting magnets is used to effectively confine the plasma. With recent advances in high-temperature superconducting magnet technology, the magnetic field strength inside fusion devices has more than doubled compared to previous technologies. As a result, the massive superconducting magnets used in fusion reactors—once spanning several tens of meters—are now being scaled down to just a few meters, making compact fusion reactors a reality. This breakthrough is fueling rapid growth in the field, with global private sector investments surpassing 10 trillion KRW, aiming for commercialization by the 2030s.

Seoul National University is a global leader in high-temperature superconducting magnet and application research, centered around the Applied Superconductor Research Center (Director: Prof. Seungyong Han, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering). Additionally, the university leads fusion research through the Fusion Reactor Engineering Research Center (Director: Prof. Yongseok Hwang, Department of Nuclear Engineering), which operates the VEST (Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus) device for education and research purposes.

Supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the High-Temperature Superconducting Magnet Technology Development Project (2022–2026, Project Director: Visiting Professor Sangjin Lee, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering) is led by the Applied Superconductor Research Center. This large-scale national initiative involves over 200 researchers across 27 institutions in Korea and focuses on developing a wide range of core source technologies related to high-temperature superconducting magnets. The outcomes of this project are having a broad impact, including technological collaboration with Hyundai E&C in the field of fusion energy, and extending to both domestic and international superconducting applications. In July 2024, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced a 1.2 trillion KRW initiative titled the “Accelerated Realization Strategy for Fusion Energy”, highlighting the importance of technological innovations—such as high-temperature superconducting magnet technology—and public-private collaboration in advancing the commercialization of fusion energy. As a follow-up to this strategy, the government established the Fusion Innovation Alliance (Director: Boseon Kang, Director of KFE Center), an independent, industry-led organization aimed at laying the groundwork for private-sector growth and promoting the industrialization of fusion. Through this alliance, MSIT is also emphasizing the importance of university-industry collaboration in fusion-related research.

Through this agreement, Seoul National University and Hyundai Engineering & Construction plan to closely collaborate on superconducting fusion reactor technologies, both domestically and internationally. Their cooperation will include: △ Joint research and technology development △ Business development and participation △ Human resource support and operation of mutual consultative bodies. Seoul National University will accelerate its research into core technologies in the fields of fusion and superconductivity, while Hyundai E&C, drawing on its extensive experience with various large-scale nuclear power plants including SMRs,aims to take a leading role in the construction and commercialization of fusion power plants. Together, the two institutions intend to generate strong synergy based on their unique strengths and drive innovation in future energy. Furthermore, Seoul National University recently launched the SNU Energy Initiative (SNU Energy Initiative, Chair: Professor Sungjae Kim, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering) to comprehensively address issues across the full energy lifecycle. This new agreement with Hyundai E&C is expected to serve as a foundation for exploring new alternative solutions for future energy production together with SNU Energy Initiative.

President Honglim Yoo of Seoul National University stated, “This agreement marks an important milestone in the history of superconductivity and fusion research in Korea. Through the collaboration between our two institutions, I hope our country will secure world-leading technological capabilities and contribute to strengthening national competitiveness.” Hanwoo Lee, CEO of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, remarked, “This partnership between leading academic and industrial institutions in Korea is expected to drive a new momentum for the transition to future energy. Today’s agreement is a meaningful step toward moving fusion power development from the laboratory to the construction of commercial reactors, ultimately creating real-world value.”

This MoU between Seoul National University and Hyundai Engineering & Construction represents the first instance of a major Korean conglomerate formally entering the fields of fusion energy and high-temperature superconductivity, marking a significant milestone in the history of domestic research in these areas. Moreover, the agreement is especially meaningful as it lays the groundwork for rapidly securing a foothold in the global market, leveraging Korea’s world-class superconducting fusion technology at a time when international competition in this domain is intensifying.

Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=56588
Translated by: Dohyung Kim, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, kimdohyung@snu.ac.kr