South Korea Names Fusion as a Strategic Technology for Economic Growth
On August 12, South Korea President Lee Jae Myung identified fusion energy as one of seven strategic technologies the country will prioritize as future drivers of economic growth.
Under the country’s new 7 SEED (Strategic Emerging Engines for Disruptive Innovation) Projects initiative, fusion is listed alongside small modular reactors (SMRs) and renewable energy under the initiative’s “Future Clean Energy” category, aimed at meeting growing electricity demand from AI while supporting carbon neutrality.
Under the 7 SEED initiative, South Korea’s plans for fusion include:
- Targeting fusion power production by the 2030s;
- Establishing public-private special-purpose companies (SPCs) for capital-intensive technologies, including fusion machines, to jointly fund technology development and commercialization;
- Extending government support beyond R&D to demonstration, commercial deployment, and regulatory improvements;
- Supporting long-term, large-scale research through changes to university funding and government research institutions; and
- Establishing a public-private “Future Growth Engine Task Force” to oversee sector roadmaps and track progress.
The initiative places fusion within South Korea’s broader strategy to develop new industries capable of driving economic growth beyond the country’s existing strengths in semiconductors and the expanding AI economy.
