College Of Engineering Seoul National University

Nuclear Engineering

Introduction

Nuclear engineering is a multidisciplinary field that deals with technologies providing various benefits to humanity by utilizing the enormous nuclear reaction energy and various fundamental particles that make up atoms. It focuses on advanced energy-based science and technology, such as nuclear power generation, which harnesses the enormous energy released by nuclear fission reactions to produce electricity, and nuclear fusion power generation, which has the potential to fundamentally solve the energy depletion problem. Furthermore, it involves the research and development of new technologies and systems that will create and lead current and future industries by using plasma, radiation, accelerators, and lasers with the latest scientific and technological advancements.

Nuclear energy is the most realistic large-scale energy supply solution for humanity to respond to climate change, making its increased role inevitable. This is also crucial for our country's energy security, as we import all the energy resources. Nuclear energy is a future key energy source that provides eco-friendly energy necessary for transitioning to a hydrogen economy and a digital society, including low-cost hydrogen production, power supply for data centers, safe management of spent nuclear fuel, and achieving a nuclear circular economy. Fusion energy is gaining attention as the ultimate future energy source to solve humanity's energy problems. Along with nuclear energy applications, advanced scientific technologies such as plasma, neutrons, radiation, and laser beams provide essential technologies for future industries and environmental industries related to information, life, and micro technologies (IT, BT, NT) that have emerged in the 21st century. Plasma application technology is a key factor in overcoming technological limits in new materials and environmental industries. Radiation applications also play a crucial role in waste treatment, new material development, precision measurement technology, and agricultural, industrial, and medical biosciences, contributing to improving the quality of life in an environmentally friendly manner.

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at Seoul National University focuses on advanced energy engineering technologies and the research and development of plasma and radiation, which are gaining attention with the latest scientific advancements of the 21st century. It serves as a cradle for engineers who will lead in creating national wealth and improving the quality of life for mankind. By enhancing research capabilities in core nuclear engineering technologies and challenging unexplored scientific and technological fields, the department strives to achieve creative and world-class research and development, thereby fostering international competitiveness and nurturing talents that will lead the world. To cultivate nuclear engineering leaders in various fields, the department emphasizes developing a broad foundation of basic academic knowledge and engineering problem-solving skills. The graduate program provides in-depth education and research divided into three major areas: nuclear energy systems engineering, fusion and plasma engineering, and radiation and subatomic particle engineering.

Career Paths after Graduation

Established in 1959, the department celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2019. Over the years, it has produced over 1,400 bachelor's degree holders, 480 master's degree holders, and 220 Ph.D. holders. Graduates have taken on pivotal roles in various fields, including prestigious universities in the United States, Europe, and Japan, domestic research institutions such as the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, and U.S. national laboratories like Argonne, Idaho, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. They are also involved in international organizations such as the IAEA and ITER, and in the nuclear industry with companies like Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, KEPCO Engineering & Construction, KEPCO Nuclear Fuel, and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency. Additionally, graduates have joined government regulatory bodies like the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control. Graduates are also active in industries related to plasma applications, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Samsung Display, and LG Electronics. Recently, with increased investment in the development of small modular reactors, the scope of industrial entry has expanded to include companies such as Samsung C&T, GS Energy, Doosan Enerbility, SK, SK Innovation, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Construction, Hyundai Engineering, and POSCO E&C.

Research Areas

Nuclear Energy System Engineering

In this field, nuclear systems harness the high-density energy derived from nuclear fission reactions to produce electricity and high-temperature heat, enabling the economical and environmentally friendly supply of abundant energy. The main research subjects include not only current commercial nuclear power plants but also future nuclear systems being developed for various purposes, such as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, molten salt reactors, liquid metal reactors, marine reactors, and special-purpose microreactors. Specific research areas consist of high-performance computational simulations and experiments using the latest techniques in academic disciplines such as reactor physics, thermal hydraulics and nuclear safety, structures and materials, and nuclear chemistry.

Recent research focuses on developing high-performance next-generation reactor analysis codes, experimentally and analytically evaluating various systems and nuclear fuels to enhance reactor performance and safety, developing design and accident analysis technologies for various ship reactors, developing radioactive waste storage and disposal technologies, and researching innovative SMR safety. Alongside this, leadership education in the energy industry, including technical understanding of nuclear energy, social communication, conflict management, and energy policy formulation, is also pursued. The ultimate goal of research in this field is to establish safe and economical future nuclear systems without concerns about fuel supply and disposal.

Fusion and Plasma Engineering

The research can be divided into i) fusion science and engineering which will become humanity's ultimate energy source in the 21st century, ii) plasma application, which has brought about revolutionary advancements in overcoming technological limitations in new materials and environmental industries, and iii) accelerator and particle beam/laser research, which have a significant impact on both basic and applied fields. In the fusion field, research is conducted through advanced theories and modeling to establish and control plasma operation scenarios for ultra-high-temperature plasma, aiming to maintain stable long-pulse fusion reactions. Cutting-edge research is conducted through various collaborations with domestic and international fusion research groups, such as KSTAR and ITER. Additionally, by operating VEST, the only spherical tokamak fusion experimental device in Korea, the department leads in training fusion personnel.

In the field of plasma application engineering, to overcome limitations in new materials and the environmental industry, research includes developing process plasma sources and operating technologies, which are fundamental to the semiconductor display manufacturing equipment industry, environmental industry plasma, basic plasma physics research, and thermal plasma utilization technology development. In the field of quantum engineering, research is conducted on developing X-ray and neutron generation systems, laser system design and diagnostics, and the development of multipurpose ion sources.

Radiation and Subatomic Particle Engineering

This is a pragmatic field dealing with securing radiation energy (obtained from radioactive isotopes and radiation generators) and developing methods to effectively utilize it in various applications. Across the entire area dealing with ionizing radiation, such as radiation generation and utilization, radiation/radiometry, radiobiology, and radiation protection, we provide education and discussions on a wide spectrum of research fields and topics. Ranging from basic research such as research on radiation detection materials and biological impact assessment, to software research such as radiation image processing and visualization algorithm development, as well as to hardware research such as radiation generation and application device construction, we are conducting research on the development of radiation utilization technologies with an ever-expanding range of applications and interdisciplinary convergence with other fields in science and technology.

As the demand for industrial and medical accelerators, non-destructive testing devices, and medical diagnostic and treatment devices is increasing day by day, the scale of radiation application technology is growing significantly, and the public's interest in radiation/radioactivity is also increasing rapidly with the emergence of social issues such as radon and tritium. In recent years, due to the international situation involving North Korea's nuclear program and increased terrorist activities, the field of security screening for counter-terrorism and national security has also received global attention. In response to these demands, we are conducting research on radiation engineering as a core basic technology in various industrial fields such as homeland security, nuclear material detection, nuclear nonproliferation, and non-destructive testing, beyond medical imaging and treatment, by studying the generation of radiation using quantum beams, measurement and analysis of radiation/radioactivity, development and utilization of radiation detectors capable of detecting and measuring various ionizing radiation, evaluation of the effects of radiation on the environment and human body, and optimization of protection against radiation.