KERI, Operator of the Jang Young Sil Test Facility, Reveals Plans for AI and Power Semiconductor Campus

The electric ship Jang Yeong-sil had its propulsion system performance verified at a land-based testing facility before setting sail. The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), which operated this testing facility, unveiled its technology direction for the next 50 years on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The plan is to expand the infrastructure previously used for testing ships to build an open campus that will directly apply artificial intelligence (AI) and power semiconductors to manufacturing sites in the southeastern region. This article examines how the 50th-anniversary events translate into changes in industrial settings.

Infrastructure That Tested Ships and Machine Tools on Land

The process of transferring technology from a national research institute to actual industry can feel abstract, but KERI’s 50-year history is connected to specific facilities. Kim Suk-ju, KERI’s Senior Researcher, introduced the demonstration infrastructure built by the institute over the past 50 years and its achievements at the Changwon Future Industry Strategy Symposium on January 29, 2026 ¹.

The most prominent example is the ‘Land-Based Testing Facility for Electric Ships (LBTS)’ that supported the Jang Yeong-sil. At this facility, the institute first demonstrated the stability of electric propulsion systems on land, aiding the launching process. The role of facilities such as the ‘HVDC Testing and Certification Center,’ which enhanced the global export competitiveness of power equipment, and the ‘AI CNC Demonstration Center,’ which led the localization of numerical control panels (CNC), a core component of machine tools, was also emphasized ¹. Basic technology development has thus functioned as a pathway to resolve companies' technological barriers through specific testing facilities.

Growth Axes Including Power Grids, HVDC, Batteries, and Power Semiconductors

On April 9, 2026, KERI announced the 50th-anniversary emblem and the slogan "50 Years Lighting Up the World, 100 Years Shining Even Brighter" in line with Electricity Day (April 10), its legal anniversary. This slogan and emblem were finalized through a national preference vote involving approximately 10,000 participants ², ³. The main event for the 50th anniversary was scheduled for November, and this announcement was made as part of the preparation stages ².

A key point of this vision is that the 'future' is defined by specific technology areas. KERI proposed power grids, High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC), batteries, and power semiconductors as the next growth axes ³.

• High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC): A transmission technology that efficiently moves electricity over very long distances in Direct Current (DC) form.
• Power Semiconductors: Electronic components (devices) that act as switches to precisely control the conversion and flow of power in places like electric vehicles and data centers ⁴.

All processes—transporting electricity generated by solar power to cities, managing electric vehicle batteries, and supplying power to AI semiconductors—are directly connected to these axes. Placing icons for power, renewable energy, mobility, motors, and battery/nano technologies in the background of the unveiled emblem also visualizes this industrial ecosystem ², ³.

An 'Open KERI Second Campus' Connected to Manufacturing Sites

If the past infrastructure tested ships and machine tools, where will the new growth axes be demonstrated? Senior Researcher Kim proposed the establishment of an 'Open KERI Second Campus' as a core strategy for the next 50 years at the symposium. The second campus is being planned as demonstration infrastructure where national strategic technologies like AI and power semiconductors can be directly implemented in southeastern manufacturing sites ¹.

The concept for the second campus builds upon accumulated regional cooperation achievements. Kim Jong-moon, Head of KERI’s Technology Startup Division, announced achievements such as the establishment of 36 lab-based companies, 75 startups, ₩130.3 billion in investment attraction, ₩273.5 billion in revenue, and the creation of 899 jobs since the designation of the Changwon Innovation District in 2019. These figures serve as data showing the impact of demonstration infrastructure on the local economy and manufacturing industry ¹. The second campus will serve as a base to expand these industry-academia-research links to the next stage.

Machines That Use Electricity, Becoming 'Physical AI'

The reason KERI’s vision directly touches citizens’ lives is that these technologies connect with the physical world. Unlike generative AI that handles data on screens, 'Physical AI,' which operates in real-world environments, was discussed as a task for manufacturing sites. At the symposium, Lee Jung-hwan, President of the Changwon Industrial Promotion Agency, introduced the process of AI transformation in manufacturing and best practices, emphasizing the 'realization of a global manufacturing innovation leading city centered on Physical AI' ¹. KERI is also treating electrical energy-based Physical AI technology as a research area ⁴.

KERI is developing precision medical devices needed for an aging society by combining electrical energy control technologies and is creating new industries based on plasma and electron beam technologies ⁴. Additionally, research is underway on high-efficiency motors for electric vehicles and ships, next-generation solid-state batteries, and lithium-sulfur batteries ⁴. These machines and devices run on electricity precisely controlled by power semiconductors and smart grids.

The slogan "50 Years Lighting Up the World" does not end with reflecting on past achievements like the land-based testing of the Jang Yeong-sil or the localization of CNCs. The next 50 years involve settling AI and power semiconductors in real industrial sites based on this experienced infrastructure. The growth axes and the second campus plan are concrete indicators showing how future electrical technologies will transform our industries and daily lives.