South Korea Launches Construction of Trillion-Won Saebit Synchrotron Accelerator

On July 27, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the "Korea Saebit Accelerator" at the synchrotron radiation accelerator site in Ochang, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. This event marked the official launch of a major scientific research facility project with a total investment exceeding 1 trillion won.

The Korea Saebit Accelerator is a fourth-generation circular synchrotron radiation accelerator designed to generate synchrotron radiation by accelerating electrons to speeds approaching that of light. Researchers can use this high-brightness light source to irradiate materials, enabling the analysis of internal structures and chemical properties at the atomic scale. Once completed, the facility will support research in areas such as next-generation semiconductors, secondary batteries, advanced materials, and the structural analysis of new drug candidates—facilitating tasks like detecting semiconductor defects and observing internal chemical changes in secondary batteries.

Under the current plan, the South Korean government intends to invest 1.1643 trillion won by the end of 2029. Led by the KBSI in collaboration with North Chungcheong Province, the project will oversee the construction of the accelerator itself, experimental beamlines, and research support facilities.

South Korean officials anticipate that the accelerator will serve as vital infrastructure for domestic research institutions and companies to conduct advanced materials R&D and enhance product performance. A representative from the Ministry of Science and ICT stated that the ministry would ensure the project's smooth construction, enabling researchers and the industrial sector to utilize this high-level research infrastructure for their work.