The building housing Korea's first nuclear reactor, Research Reactor No. 1, located in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, is set for demolition.
According to the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) on Wednesday, Research Reactor No. 1, situated within the Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) Seoul Training Center site, received approval from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in January for self-disposal of the contaminated building, with demolition work set to begin this month.
Research Reactor No. 1 is the "TRIGA Mark-II," introduced from General Atomics in 1959 with U.S. assistance, and is Korea's first nuclear reactor.
The 100-kilowatt thermal output research reactor, which marked the beginning of Korea's nuclear research, began full-scale operation in 1962 and ran until its shutdown in 1995. It served as the foundation for Korea's rise as a nuclear power, underpinning achievements such as the nuclear power plant export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and selection as the preferred bidder for the Czech Republic's nuclear power project.
Dismantlement of the auxiliary and surrounding facilities of Research Reactor No. 1 was completed in 2007, while the neighboring Reactor No. 2 was fully dismantled, including its reactor body, in 2005. However, Research Reactor No. 1 was designated as Registered Cultural Heritage No. 577 in 2013, and its reactor exterior remains intact.
KAERI is currently in discussions with KEPCO on options including dismantling the reactor building while preserving only the reactor's exterior. Permits for self-disposal of the Research Reactor No. 2 building and surrounding facilities are also expected to be issued as early as this month.
KAERI anticipates that it will be able to submit a dismantlement completion report by the end of 2027, following additional permits for surrounding facilities and waste self-disposal.
