KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) is South Korea's government-funded nuclear research institute, based in Daejeon. Its work spans nuclear safety, reactor development, industrial and medical isotopes and advanced reactor concepts, including molten salt reactors.

In marine propulsion, KAERI developed MARINA, a marine molten salt small modular reactor platform intended for container ships and LNG carriers. It is the reactor technology partner of Samsung Heavy Industries, which works on hull design, reactor placement, system layout and power management together with the ship research institute KRISO. In July 2026 their design for a 15,000 TEU container ship with two molten salt reactors in a load-sharing arrangement, able to reach 25 knots and fit the expanded Panama Canal, received approval in principle from the American Bureau of Shipping.

KAERI also signed a 2026 agreement with Saltfoss Energy on molten salt reactor technology. The institute and its partners plan further design refinement and safety testing of the marine MSR concept.