Small modular reactors (SMRs), next-generation data centers for artificial intelligence (AI), and even lunar bases all share a common foundation: construction technology.
That is the argument of Park Sun-kyu, president of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), who says that without the right infrastructure, even the most advanced technologies are nothing more than ideas.
“SMRs, for instance, are 90 percent about construction,” Park said. “AI centers mean nothing without buildings that can efficiently cool the heat or manage massive power demands.”
Despite such significance, Park says construction technology is still sidelined in Korea’s scientific ecosystem.
It was notably absent from the government‘s list of twelve national strategic technologies. Park attributes this to the lingering stereotype that equates construction with manual labor rather than high science.
“People see hard hats and dust and don’t think of scientists,” he said. “This perception gap also contributes to recurring safety issues on construction sites. Changing that mindset is crucial.”
KICT, a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology, focuses on high-performance construction materials, infrastructure safety, and foundational technologies for advanced facilities, including SMRs.
With modular design at the core of SMRs—allowing prefabricated units to be assembled like LEGO bricks—construction plays a vital role in both reducing costs and enabling decentralized deployment.
Park noted that everything from transmission towers to power lines is rooted in construction engineering.
KICT is currently developing specialized construction technologies to support next-generation nuclear facilities. These include innovations to prevent reactor-adjacent concrete from becoming radioactive waste after decommissioning and strengthening containment structures against external shocks.
The institute is also preparing for the space construction era.
Park noted that KICT is running space environment simulations and working on technology to produce bricks on the Moon or Mars, as well as autonomous robots for extraterrestrial construction.
KICT plans to support Korea’s lunar exploration missions in collaboration with both public and private partners.
Closer to home, Park emphasized the institute’s role in disaster prevention and public safety.
KICT has assembled a task force composed of top researchers to tackle urban hazards such as sinkholes and landslides. Every year, natural disasters result in about 80 fatalities and an estimated 700 billion won ($513 million) in economic losses.
“We want to take the lead in protecting citizens from the dangers posed by climate change and natural disasters,” Park said.
Born in 1960, Park holds a doctorate from the Technical University of Berlin. He previously served as vice president of Sungkyunkwan University, vice president of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, and a board member at the Construction Engineer Policy Institute of Korea. He assumed the helm of KICT in November last year.
By Ko Jae-won and Minu Kim
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]
