New Opening of KAIST Nuclear Non-proliferation Education and Research Center (NEREC)

The first and only professional organization on nuclear non-proliferation in academia has been established at KAIST in the Republic of Korea for nurturing the human resources specialized in nuclear non-proliferation and serving as a non-governmental think tank.

The Inaugural Symposium of the NEREC center commemorating its opening at KAIST on April 16, 2014

In line with the phase with advancement of nuclear technology in Korea, the KAIST Nuclear Non-proliferation Education and Research Center (NEREC) starts its operation at KAIST (President: Dr. Sungmo Kang) under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (Minister: Dr. Mun-ki Choi) to contribute to the international efforts on Nuclear Non-proliferation.

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and KAIST made an announcement of holding an Inaugural Symposium commemorating the opening of the KAIST Nuclear Non-proliferation Education and Research Center (NEREC) at the KAIST Auditorium Seminar Room on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 starting at 10:00 AM with attendance of students and the experts on Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Non-proliferation.

In three symposium sessions of “Trends and Issues of Nuclear Non-proliferation Education”, “Korean Nuclear Non-proliferation Policy Challenges and Countermeasures” and “Nuclear Non-proliferation Policy Supply and Demand Issues”, extensive discussions will be conducted on the environment of international nuclear non-proliferation, current Korean policies and the desirable future directions of the center. 

The Republic of Korea has been continuously taking a leadership role on the discussions of the international nuclear non-proliferation. For example, Korea successfully hosted the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) solely developed an innovative original technology that played a key role for the emergence of high-density low-enriched uranium for minimizing of world’s dangerous nuclear material.

However, international community has continuously expecting the Republic of Korea for her involvement and efforts for nuclear non-proliferation that is commensurable to her level of nuclear capabilities (or competence) as Korea has emerged as a nuclear supplier nation. Consequently, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning has been seeking a way to strengthen the academic civilian infrastructure for education and research in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. (or establish a civilian infrastructure for education and research on nuclear non-proliferation where a university plays the central role)

Newly established KAIST "Nuclear Non-Proliferation Education Research Center (NEREC)" has the mission of educating and nurturing the experts (or specialists) of professional capacity with their ability to proactively participate in the field of nuclear non-proliferation (or who can professionally participate in international activities in the fields of nuclear non-proliferation) and conducting its role as the non-governmental think tank in Korea on nuclear non-proliferation issues and, thus, effectively contribute to national nuclear technology transparency.

There are three tier programs consisting of “Semester Program”, “One-year Certificate Program” and “M.S. and Ph.D. Program” for students majoring Nuclear Engineering and International Relations. Accepted students will be trained and nurtured with in-depth knowledge on nuclear non-proliferation and its associated technologies for their future endeavors in research and contribution on the development of nuclear non-proliferation policy.

For personnel from government agencies, congressional units and media organizations a short-term program is created to educate the attendees to understand the essence of nuclear non-proliferation and help them to effectively contribute to the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation culture.

In addition, the center organizes international workshops on nuclear non-proliferation on a regular basis and closely cooperates with renowned domestic and international organizations on nuclear non-proliferation for academic exchange and sharing research results. The center, as a non-governmental organization, also takes the lead on the discussions of nuclear energy, including its peaceful use.

To this end, utilizing (or taking the advantage of) the network of relevant domestic and international agencies and experts (or at home and abroad) the center will administer the field training and other close coordination. 

Prof. Yim Man Sung, Director of the Center and Head of Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering said “KAIST Nuclear Non-proliferation Education and Research Center (NEREC) is the sole professional academic organization of its kind in Korea and we are embarking on its mission in education and research on nuclear non-proliferation and will serve and grow as an international think tank representing Korea with its balanced emphasis on education and research”.