S. Korea bets on homegrown quantum tech, warning future at stake

- Targeting 100-qubit superconducting and 1,000-qubit neutral-atom computers by 2029, South Korea accelerates quantum development

- From GPS-free navigation to sinkhole detection, quantum sensors set to target defense and industrial markets

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon (right) tours a superconducting quantum computing research facility at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science. [KRISS]

"Lose the lead in quantum technology, and there is no future for advanced industry."

The US-China technology rivalry over AI and semiconductors is spreading into quantum technology. Quantum computers — capable of surpassing the computational limits of conventional supercomputers — along with quantum sensors and quantum cryptography have emerged as critical strategic technologies that will determine national security and industrial competitiveness.

A quantum computer is a next-generation technology that harnesses quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to achieve computational performance that overwhelms conventional computers on certain problems. While ordinary computers process information in binary bits — either 0 or 1 — quantum computing uses qubits, which can exist as 0 and 1 simultaneously.

That property makes quantum computers a transformative technology capable of solving in minutes calculations that would take classical computers hundreds of thousands of years. Google announced that its quantum computer completed in 200 seconds a calculation it estimated would take a supercomputer 10,000 years. The University of Science and Technology of China similarly reported achieving performance that far exceeded conventional supercomputers on certain computational problems.

The United States is pursuing quantum computer development and a national transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) at the federal level. China is also moving aggressively to secure quantum communication, quantum computing and quantum sensing technologies, backed by massive investment. As the US-China duopoly evolves toward the extreme of "weaponizing quantum," South Korea faces the risk of technological dependence — caught in a precarious position between the two powers.

Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science inspect a 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer. [Herald DB]

South Korea is moving to secure its own quantum technology. The government aims to develop a 100-qubit-class quantum processing unit (QPU) capable of error correction by 2029 and to build a "K-Quantum Foundry" leveraging the country's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, with a goal of achieving world-class quantum chip manufacturing capacity by 2035.

The central challenge is how stably qubits — the brain of a quantum computer — can be implemented and controlled. Qubits are prone to errors from even the slightest changes in their environment, a major obstacle to commercialization. The key is not simply increasing the number of qubits, but securing technology that can correct errors and make quantum computers usable in real industrial settings.

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) is leading the push for homegrown technology through a two-track strategy: developing superconducting and neutral-atom quantum computers simultaneously. The institute is targeting a 100-qubit-class superconducting system and a 1,000-qubit-class neutral-atom system by 2029 — pursuing two distinct approaches to secure core foundational technologies and reduce dependence on any single platform.

The superconducting approach uses superconducting circuits — which lose all electrical resistance at extremely low temperatures — as qubits. It offers advantages in scalability, fast computation speeds and partial compatibility with existing semiconductor manufacturing techniques. It is the approach favored by global players such as Google and IBM, and is considered the technology closest to commercialization.

Researchers work on neutral-atom quantum computer development. [KRISS]

KRISS developed a 20-qubit superconducting quantum computing system in 2024 in collaboration with domestic research institutions. In March last year, it also demonstrated a cloud service allowing outside researchers to access the quantum computer over the internet.

The next milestone is a 50-qubit system, which will serve as the foundation for scaling up to 100 qubits by 2029 and applying quantum error-correction technology. The institute plans to draw on expertise accumulated in cryogenic measurement and precision control to improve computational performance and reliability.

The other pillar of the strategy is the neutral-atom quantum computer. The neutral-atom approach traps individual uncharged atoms one by one using laser-created "optical tweezers" and uses them as qubits. The method is well suited to implementing large numbers of qubits because atoms can be arranged with high precision, and quantum states can be maintained for relatively long periods.

Building on its accumulated atom-control expertise, KRISS is pursuing development of a 1,000-qubit-class neutral-atom quantum computer, with plans to advance atomic arrangement and precision control technologies to secure independent QPU design capabilities.

The strategy pairs the superconducting approach — for fast computation and integration — with the neutral-atom approach to broaden the potential for large-scale expansion.

"Drawing on decades of accumulated measurement capabilities in atom control and cryogenic control, we are at the forefront of developing superconducting and neutral-atom quantum computers based on our own technology," said Choi Jae-hyeok, director of the KRISS Quantum Technology Research Division. "We will push forward not only on scaling up qubits and developing error-correction technology, but also on building an industry-academia-research quantum ecosystem and localizing key components and equipment."

A quantum gravimeter that can be used to estimate location without GPS. [KRISS]

South Korea is also accelerating development of quantum sensors alongside quantum computers. A leading example is the quantum gravimeter, a device that can estimate location even without GPS.

Earth's gravitational field varies subtly depending on the density of underground rock, terrain and groundwater distribution. A quantum gravimeter uses the quantum mechanical properties of laser-cooled atoms to measure these gravitational variations with high precision.

The technology is drawing particular attention for its potential use in environments where satellite signals are difficult to receive, such as submarines and underwater unmanned systems.

While GPS is vulnerable to radio-frequency jamming and signal blocking, a quantum gravimeter can help determine a current position by comparing measured gravitational characteristics against a pre-built precision gravity map. However, integration with other technologies — including inertial navigation systems — is required.

Civilian applications are also significant. Because underground cavities, tunnels and groundwater exhibit different gravitational characteristics from surrounding geological layers, the technology can be applied to urban sinkhole risk surveys, underground resource exploration, and geological and marine surveys.

KRISS is working to improve the performance of quantum gravimeters and develop application technologies. Miniaturizing the sensor, shortening measurement time and ensuring stability in external environments such as vibration are the key challenges for commercialization.

"Quantum sensing technologies, including the quantum gravimeter, already compete at the world's highest level," said Kwon Taek-yong, head of the KRISS Atomic Quantum Sensing Group. "We will expand applications into defense, navigation and underground exploration to lead global quantum sensing technology."

nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com