Dear Colleagues,

This is Sung-Min Choi serving as the Head of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering Department at KAIST since September 1, 2016. First of all, I sincerely wish you a very healthy, happy, and prosperous year 2017. I also wish that in this year nuclear energy and radiation science and technology can contribute more strongly to the nation and the world. Our department will try to do our best for the purposes. From this year, KAIST NQe Newsletter has been revised and will be issued twice a year in a brief letter format.

Our department successfully attracted two major research centers in 2016. Center for Autonomous Small Modular Reactor Research (CASMRR) led by Prof. Yonghee Kim was selected as the Engineering Research Center (ERC) by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP), and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea. The ERC will pursue new concepts of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) capable of autonomous operation and develop its core technologies. We expect that the ERC will play a leading role in developing innovative SMR technologies which would greatly enhance the safety and widen the spectrum of environmentally friendly applications of nuclear energy.

Center for Radioactive Waste Multiphase Complex Interface Radiochemistry led by Prof. Jong-Il Yun was selected as the Advanced Research Center for Nuclear Excellence by the MSIP and the NRF of Korea. We expect that this center will lead the development of key technologies for the radioactive waste treatment and disposal and significantly contribute to the education and training of next generation researchers in the field.

Prof. Poong Hyun Seong was appointed as a Member of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of Korea.For the next three years (2017-2019), he will play an important role in advancing nuclear energy in Korea. The AEC is a government organization directly under Prime Minister and reviews and decides all the important issues regarding utilization of nuclear energy in Korea. In the past, Prof. Kun Jai Lee (2010-2016) and Prof. Nam Zin Cho (2003-2006) in our department served as Members of the AEC. Prof. Jong Il Yun has been appointed as a Member of the Atomic Energy Utilization and Development Sub Committee under the AEC and will serve for the next two years (2017-2018).

Prof. Kun Jai Lee received Science and Technology Medal from the Korean government. Prof. Kun Jai Lee joined our department in 1983 and served as the President of the Korea Radioactive Waste Society, Vice President of Research at KAIST, and the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of Korea. The Medal was awarded to recognize his significant contributions to the nuclear energy industry and the science and technology of Korea. The award ceremony was held at the 6th Nuclear Safety Day Ceremony.

Prof. Gyuseong Cho was appointed as the President of Korean Society of Radiation Industry (KSRI). For the next two years (2017-2018), he will lead the KSRI to promote academic research and industrial development in the fields of radiation and radioisotope utilizations in Korea. We hope that Korean radiation industry makes major advancements under his leadership and contributes to the nation’s technology and industry.

Dr. Won-Pil Baek received the KAIST Alumni Award from the Alumni Association of KAIST. Dr. Baek received his PhD from the Nuclear Engineering Department (currently, the Dept. of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering) of KAIST in 1991. He joined Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in 2001 and he is currently serving as Senior Vice President for R&D at KAERI. The award was made to recognize his outstanding domestic and international leadership in nuclear safety, and various contributions to KAIST. He is considered as one of the most respected role models for KAIST NQe students and junior alumni. The ceremony was held during the KAIST Alumni 2017 New Year Meeting.

I sincerely thank your excellent contributions, strong supports and warm love for KAIST Nuclear and Quantum Engineering Department, and wish you all the best in 2017.

Sincerely yours,
Sung-Min Choi
Head, Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, KAIST.

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