Korea Has 3, China Has 90: The Widening 'Technology Gap'

A massive circular facility that takes about 10 minutes just to ride a bus around its entire circumference.

This is the fourth-generation circular synchrotron radiation facility built in the Huairou Science City in Beijing, China.

The accelerator's perimeter alone is 1.36 kilometers, making it the size of 20 soccer fields.

It is an ultra-large microscope that uses light—specifically electromagnetic waves—generated during the process of accelerating electrons to near the speed of light to analyze the structures and properties of ultra-fine materials.

It can be used to observe protein structures of molecules to develop new drugs like Tamiflu, and to identify microscopic defects in semiconductor manufacturing processes below 10 nanometers.

It is a cutting-edge scientific facility that can observe materials down to the atomic level, enabling the development of new substances and materials.

While the fourth-generation linear synchrotron radiation facility in South Korea can accommodate up to three research beamlines, China's fourth-generation circular synchrotron radiation facility can install up to 90, offering a much broader research scope and utility.

[Lu Wei / Director of China's 4th-Generation Circular Synchrotron Facility: It is one of the brightest first high-energy light sources in the world. This machine is designed to be a machine for the world. It's not just for China, it's not just for Asia. It is for outstanding scientists who want to do the best research.]

The Chinese government spent 5 billion yuan—approximately 1.1 trillion won—to build this facility in just two years, putting it three years ahead of South Korea, which aims for completion in 2029.

China's fourth-generation circular synchrotron radiation facility, the first of its kind in Asia, is set to be fully utilized for various studies after completing more than six months of test operations.

It has already received proposals from around 1,700 institutions in some 20 countries worldwide to conduct research using the facility.

The Chinese government is pouring 116.9 billion yuan—about 25.6 trillion won—solely into basic research.

This amount is nearly 10 times South Korea's basic research budget of 2.74 trillion won.

Taking 10 Minutes by Car to Circle Circumference... The 'Dream Microscope' Built in China (July 26, 2026)

Reported by Han Sang-woo | Produced by Kim Da-yeon | Filmed by Choi Deok-hyun | Design by Seo Hyun-jung | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.