On July 18, 2023, H.E. Colin James Crooks LVO, the British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, visited KAERI and held a meeting with the President, with the President, Dr. Han Gyu Joo, to discuss nuclear energy cooperation between Korea and the U.K.

Korea and the U.K. have had a partnership on the peaceful use of nuclear energy since 1991. President Joo welcomed the visit by addressing the importance of bilateral cooperation, especially in research and development. After general introduction of KAERI’s research activities, President Joo particularly pointed two items such as radioisotope power system and molten salt reactor for possible future cooperation to enhance nuclear partnership. 

Both sides agreed that more nuclear power is needed to achieve energy security and carbon neutral transition, and advanced reactor will play an important role in the energy sector in the near future. The British Ambassador added that the role of nuclear technology is crucial to achieve the net zero emissions. 

After the meeting, H.E. Colin James Crooks LVO took a technical tour of KAERI’s high performing multi-purpose research reactor (HANARO), designed and built independently by KAERI with a thermal power capacity of 30 MWth. 

The British Ambassador’s visit to KAERI is expected to give an impetus to exploring potential cooperation and spur concrete progress between the two countries.