South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT said on Wednesday it will hold the 31st IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC), the world’s largest international event in the fusion energy field, in Seoul in October next year.

The ministry signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the event is held successfully. The FEC, also known as the fusion Olympics, is the most prestigious international event in fusion research and development and has been held every 2 years since 1961.

FEC 2027, the 31st event, is expected to draw government officials from about 40 countries and around 1,500 fusion experts. The IAEA hosts the event, with the ministry participating as the host country’s government and the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy organising it. South Korea previously held the 23rd FEC in Daejeon in 2010. It secured the 31st FEC for Seoul after leading international cooperation in fusion through the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) facility and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

The event is expected to serve as an international forum to discuss fusion research achievements, commercialisation strategies, international cooperation, regulation and standards, and private investment and technology cooperation, amid a recent global acceleration toward realising fusion energy. It is also expected to help publicise South Korea’s fusion research achievements and capabilities to the international community and expand international and public-private cooperation in the fusion sector.

The ministry will begin full-scale preparations for the successful hosting of FEC 2027 together with relevant ministries and agencies, including the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy. It will form an organising committee and a secretariat, hold preparatory meetings with the IAEA and conduct on-site inspections as it moves step by step with preparations.

Oh Dae-hyun (오대현), director general for Future Strategy Technology Policy at the ministry, said, "Hosting FEC 2027 in South Korea will serve as an opportunity to once again confirm our country’s fusion research capabilities and international standing." He added, "We will create an opportunity for South Korea to leap forward as a central country in international fusion cooperation and a key partner in the global supply chain."