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Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of the Gates Foundation, is expected to visit South Korea as early as next month to hold talks with Prime Minister Han Sung-sook.
According to the information and communications technology (ICT) industry on the 29th, Gates recently requested a meeting with Prime Minister Han regarding advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation nuclear reactors. While the specific dates of his visit and the meeting have not been finalized, next month is considered likely. During his visit, Gates is expected to meet with major domestic companies, including SK Group, to discuss cooperation. Gates founded the next-generation nuclear reactor company TerraPower and currently serves as its board chairman. In March this year, TerraPower received a permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build "Kemmerer Unit 1" in Wyoming and broke ground on construction. As the construction of next-generation reactors takes shape, Gates is expected to broaden contacts with major Korean nuclear power and construction companies.
As securing electricity becomes more important amid the expansion of AI data centers and semiconductor plants, the government is fleshing out plans to expand the role of nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs). TerraPower, which makes SMRs its core business, maintains partnerships with SK and HD Hyundai Group.
Gates also visited Korea last August, meeting President Lee Jae-myung and Industry, Trade and Resources Minister Kim Jung-kwan. Among major domestic business leaders, he met with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, and HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun to discuss possible cooperation in advanced industries such as AI, next-generation nuclear reactors, and bio.
