A domestically developed particle accelerator is helping South Korea produce medical radioisotopes for export. The RFT-30 cyclotron, developed with Korean technology in 2009 and operated at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute's Advanced Radiation Research Institute in Jeongeup, accelerates protons to create isotopes used in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
A researcher at the institute said the machine helped Korea join the ranks of radioisotope-exporting countries. The project shows how domestic accelerator technology can support both medical supply and specialized exports.