The country's first center for fusion energy research began operations Friday.

The National Fusion Research Center said it will supervise research projects to harness the power of the alternative energy source, including the building and operation of Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Reactor slated to open in August 2007.

The center will also represent the country in the international project to build the fusion reactor ITER.

Under a long-term project, it will lay the foundation for the development of core fusion technology and build fusion infrastructure, and do the groundwork for the building of a domestic fusion power plant.