'Clear plans, autonomous research': new director emphasizes safety and accountability

Jung Woo-sik, the 23rd director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, was inaugurated Tuesday and began his official duties. [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute]
Jung Woo-sik, the 23rd director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, was inaugurated Tuesday and began his official duties. [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute]

Jung Woo-sik, the newly appointed director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, said he will push to secure nationally strategic technologies — including the commercialization of small modular reactors and the development of next-generation reactor designs — while ensuring researchers have maximum autonomy.

The institute held an inauguration ceremony for Jung in its main auditorium on Tuesday.

In his inaugural address, Jung said he would "faithfully carry out priority areas the nation requires, such as SMR commercialization and next-generation reactor development, while ensuring that all research fields play their proper role without being skewed toward any particular area."

He added that he would build "an institute with clear plans, autonomous research, and achievements shared with the public."

Jung Woo-sik delivers his inaugural address as the new director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute]
Jung Woo-sik delivers his inaugural address as the new director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute]

Jung outlined two core directions for running the institute: establishing autonomous research grounded in structure and planning, and strengthening a systems-based safety management framework. Under his vision, researchers will be guaranteed autonomy and opportunities to take on challenges, while the director bears full responsibility for safety and research outcomes.

He also said he would work to ensure that research and development results do not remain confined to the laboratory but translate into real-world technology, industry applications and national policy.

"Researchers will challenge themselves with autonomy, and I as director will take full responsibility for safety and results to the end," Jung said. "I will help research outcomes connect to technology, industry and policy."

Jung holds a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from Seoul National University and master's and doctoral degrees from KAIST. He joined the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in 2002 and served as a professor in the Department of Quantum and Nuclear Engineering at Sejong University from 2014 until this month. He has also served as a non-standing director of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and as a council member of the Korean Nuclear Society.


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com