On October 27, 2025, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and the University of Missouri signed a General Agreement to enhance mutual cooperation in nuclear R&D in Daejeon, KAERI headquarters.

The University of Missouri delegation, led by President Mun Y. Choi, included Jonathan Patterson, Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, and Todd Graves, Chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators. The delegation visited KAERI for the signing ceremony. 

The First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Mr. Hyuk Chae Koo, also attended to celebrate the signing.

In April 2025, the KAERI Consortium entered into a contract with the University of Missouri to conduct Design Studies for the NextGen MURR (Missouri University Research Reactor). Building upon that partnership, this new General Agreement marks a significant step toward strengthening collaboration between the two institutions.

Through this agreement, KAERI and the University of Missouri have established a framework for joint research and personnel exchanges across six key areas, including technology development for nuclear reactors, instrumentation for advanced nuclear reactors, radioisotope applications, neutron beam utilization, materials research, and advanced computing R&D. The two organizations plan to expand practical cooperation by leveraging their respective expertise, research reactor design and operation experience, and infrastructure.

Mr. Hyuk Chae Koo, First Vice Minister of MSIT, emphasized that this agreement represents “a major turning point that elevates Korea–U.S. nuclear research and development to a new, future-oriented phase.” He added that he looks forward to both countries achieving “joint innovation in science and technology and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”

Dr. Han Gyu Joo, President of KAERI, stated that the visit by the University of Missouri delegation “goes beyond a simple visiting exchange,” describing it as “a foundation for sustainable technological cooperation based on the existing collaboration between two institutions.” He added that KAERI will “continue to strengthen collaboration in the research reactor field and broaden the scope of Korea–U.S. cooperation in nuclear R&D based on mutual trust.”

Dr. Mun Y. Choi, President of the University of Missouri, praised KAERI as “an institution with world-class capabilities in research reactor design and research.” He expressed excitement that “through the signing of this General Agreement, the two institutions will expand cooperation in future nuclear technologies that will benefit humankind not only in Korea and the United States but across the world.”

Following the signing ceremony, the University of Missouri delegation visited KAERI’s key facilities, including the HANARO (High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor), the Cold Neutron Research Facility, the Research Reactor Fuel Fabrication Facility, STELLA-2 (Large-Scale Sodium Integral Effect Test Facility), where they experienced KAERI’s technological excellence firsthand. The delegation also visited the construction site of the KJRR (Kijang Research Reactor), which is currently being built in Busan.