Established in 1958 as the first nuclear engineering department in Korea, the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Hanyang University has produced over 2,100 undergraduate and 450 graduate nuclear engineering professionals over the past five decades. We believe our alumni have played a pivotal role in Korea's rise to become the world's fifth-largest nuclear power nation and the third country to export commercial nuclear reactors.

Choosing nuclear energy as a growth engine in the war-torn ruins of the Korean Peninsula, embracing the "third fire" of nuclear power as a "fire of hope," was a visionary decision that looked a hundred years ahead. The history of nuclear energy in Korea has been inseparable from the history of our department.

As global fossil fuel reserves deplete and energy security competition intensifies among nations, CO2 emissions from fossil fuels have emerged as a critical environmental threat worldwide. Alternative energy sources, including renewables, are not yet technically mature in terms of economics and efficiency, and remain insufficient for large-scale power generation. In this context, nuclear technology has entered a new renaissance as a clean energy source that guarantees safe operations.

However, the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan taught us a profound lesson: there is no such thing as absolute 100% safety in nuclear power. As humanity seeks to escape the threat of climate change, nuclear power is being called upon to overcome new challenges with the highest standards of safety under a new paradigm. The continued vital role of nuclear power, strengthened through enhanced safety, is essential because there is no realistic alternative to meet the energy demands of rapidly growing developing nations or to sustain the economies of developed countries. Until a safer and more sustainable large-scale renewable energy source emerges, nuclear technology must fulfill this role.

Nuclear engineering encompasses not only power generation technology but also radiation applications. Today's advances in medical technology would not be possible without radiation and radioisotope technologies for early cancer detection and treatment. The applications are virtually limitless: crop improvement, environmental remediation, new material development, pharmaceutical production, space food development, counter-terrorism, material structure investigation, and safety inspection of aircraft, skyscrapers, and bridges.

Our Department of Nuclear Engineering at Hanyang University stands ready to cultivate exceptional talent in response to the demands of our era. With our three core educational objectives of "GPS" (Globalization, Practicalization, and Specialization), we strive to develop world-leading professionals who will propel Korea forward as a nuclear technology powerhouse on the global stage.

We hope you will pursue your dreams of becoming a driving force in the nation's energy industry here at Hanyang University's Department of Nuclear Engineering. The era that demands nuclear energy is now, and it is the future to come.

Department Chair, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering