Naju City in Gwangju is starting land acquisition and compensation efforts for the 'Artificial Sun' research facility.
The facility will be located in the areas of Deoksan-ri, Singari, and Yangsan-ri in Wangok-myeon.
Land purchases will begin in February 2027, with plans to clear existing structures and complete the site by February 2028 for the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The construction of the artificial sun research facility is a large-scale national project that will invest a total of 1.48 trillion won over ten years, from 2027 to 2036, to develop and demonstrate core fusion technologies.
Naju City announced on November 10 that it held a community briefing on the project on the afternoon of November 9 at the Yangsan branch of the Mahans Agricultural Cooperative in Wangok-myeon.
The briefing aimed to inform residents about the project's progress and changes after it passed the preliminary feasibility study conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT for the 'Core Technology Development and Demonstration Infrastructure for Fusion.'
Naju City provided details on the project's progress following the feasibility study, adjustments to the site area, land compensation procedures and timelines, and plans for the research complex.
Specifically, the city explained the detailed schedule and procedures for land compensation to ensure timely provision of the necessary site for the facility.
From November 9 to 23, Naju City will conduct a public notice for the compensation plan and will carry out property appraisals from November 2026 to January 2027.
Starting in February 2027, the city plans to negotiate land purchases with property owners, aiming to complete phased compensation and the removal of existing structures by February 2028, when the site will be handed over to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The briefing also addressed the adjusted site area and future utilization plans that emerged during the feasibility study.
The originally planned site for the artificial sun research facility was 1,034,000 square meters, but the feasibility assessment concluded that this area was too large for the intended construction, reducing it to 534,000 square meters.
Naju City plans to establish the artificial sun research facility on the 534,000 square meters and develop the excluded 500,000 square meters into a research complex for fusion-related institutions and companies, creating an industrial ecosystem that spans research and development to commercialization.
To this end, the city will issue a contract next month for a feasibility analysis and basic plan for the artificial sun research complex, aiming to clarify the project direction and development plans.
Additionally, Naju City plans to connect the artificial sun research facility with existing research and industrial bases, including the Korea Energy Engineering University (KENTECH), energy public institutions, and companies in the Energy Valley, while collaborating with relevant agencies to promote the designation of a 'Fusion Specialized Research and Development Zone.'
Yoon Byeong-tae, Mayor of Naju City, stated, "The passing of the preliminary feasibility study for the artificial sun research facility is an important starting point for realizing fusion energy in South Korea and a significant achievement in expanding Naju's future growth foundation."
He added, "In the process of promoting this large-scale national project, the understanding and cooperation of local residents are paramount. We will transparently explain the project progress and compensation procedures to landowners and residents, while fully listening to their opinions to ensure the timely provision of the research facility site by February 2028."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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