South Korea to launch Liquefied Hydrogen Inspection Center, Trial Operations slated for first Half 2025
1. May 2025South Korea is preparing to open its first dedicated inspection and certification center for liquefied hydrogen, with trial operations scheduled to begin in the first half of this year. Located in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, the facility aims to play a central role in ensuring the safe adoption and commercialization of liquefied hydrogen technology nationwide. Pressure vessels, safety valves and similar products used in conjunction with hydrogen systems generally require KGS factory approval in order to be approved for import and distribution in Korea.
The Liquefied Hydrogen Inspection Support Center, overseen by the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS), was structurally completed in February 2025. Final preparations are now underway to install advanced testing infrastructure designed to evaluate the safety and performance of liquefied hydrogen containers and related components under extreme cryogenic conditions.
According to KGS Hydrogen Safety Policy Director Kim Hong-chul, once equipment installation is finalized, a series of trial runs will begin to verify system stability. The center is expected to transition into full operation later this year, with a formal opening ceremony planned around November.
Spanning over 8,000 square meters of land and offering nearly 2,000 square meters of indoor space, the center is backed by a KRW 33.2 billion (roughly USD 24 million) investment. It will house 23 categories of testing and certification equipment, totaling 27 individual devices. Among them are systems for vacuum insulation testing of hydrogen storage tanks and cryogenic functional testing of critical valve types such as safety valves and emergency shut-off valves.
The facility represents a significant milestone for Korea’s hydrogen infrastructure. As liquefied hydrogen must be stored at –253°C in a highly flammable liquid state, maintaining robust insulation and ensuring material resilience are essential. The center will support these needs by conducting key safety evaluations such as normal evaporation rate (NER) analysis and helium leak detection.
Beyond compliance testing, the center is also expected to function as a research and development hub for cryogenic technology. Mechanical testing equipment for impact and tensile strength assessments at cryogenic temperatures will support domestic manufacturers in advancing their hydrogen-related products.
Once fully operational, the Liquefied Hydrogen Inspection Support Center is set to enhance Korea’s regulatory framework, support innovation in cryogenic engineering, and accelerate the safe expansion of the nation’s hydrogen economy.
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