Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute welcomed a delegation from Taiwan’s National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) on June 2 to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy.

The delegation was led by Professor Tsung-Kuang Yeh, a faculty member of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at NTHU and President of Chung-Hwa Nuclear Society (CHNS, 中華核能學會). The group included five professors from NTHU.

During their visit, the Taiwanese delegation met with KAERI President Han Gyu Joo and toured several advanced research facilities, including the research reactor HANARO, the thermal-hydraulic integral effect test facility SMART-ITL related to KAERI’s SMART SMR, and the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) for underground radioactive waste disposal research.

The visit comes amid evolving public sentiment regarding nuclear power in Taiwan, following the permanent shutdown of Taiwan’s last nuclear power plant, Maanshan Unit 2, in May and subsequent discussions on its possible restart. 

Professor Yeh emphasized that Taiwan has experienced four major blackouts in recent years and stressed that nuclear energy’s importance is increasingly recognized in the context of carbon neutrality goals. He expressed hope that the visit would foster closer cooperation between Taiwan and Korea.

During the meeting, the Taiwanese delegation also presented ongoing SMR and virtual reactor research initiatives led by National Tsing Hua University.

President Joo stated, "Achieving carbon neutrality requires securing a diverse energy portfolio that includes nuclear power," adding, "I hope this visit deepens our cooperation with Taiwan and leads to practical and beneficial research collaborations."