Quantum computer tens of millions of times faster than supercomputer came to Korea.

[Anchor]
A 'supercomputer' with the fastest computational performance of any existing computer.

A faster 'quantum computer' entered a domestic university for the first time.

Collaboration with various industries is expected to create synergy such as strengthening international competitiveness in the bilateral field.

This is reporter Park Na-yeon.

[Reporter]
A large cylindrical structure that can be seen over the glass wall.

It's stainless steel that looks normal on the outside, but quantum computers are running inside.

It contains both a cooling system and a quantum chip that sets the temperature to minus 273 degrees Celsius.

IBM quantum computers with 127-qubit performance have entered Yonsei University for the first time in Korea.

General computers recognize only 0 and 1 and calculate them in order, but quantum computers can theoretically calculate a lot at the same time because 0 and 1 coexist.

Quantum computers can calculate in seconds, which will take more than 100 million years for a regular computer and hundreds of years for a supercomputer, so their use in the industrial field is endless.

[Bang Jeong-ho / Professor of Yonsei University's Institute of Convergence Science and Technology] It can be applied to various types of optimization problems such as new material development, new drug development, and logistics.]

The information unit of a quantum computer is a qubit, and the performance doubles as a qubit increases.

Twenty qubits are evaluated in the performance verification stage and 50 qubits in the utilization stage beyond the supercomputer.

This IBM quantum computer is 127 qubits and can be used for actual R&D or large-scale parallel computations.

[Jeong Jae-ho / Head of the Quantum Project at Yonsei University's Institute of Convergence Science and Technology: The most important area is the development of algorithms that can solve certain problems using this quantum computer or software for driving quantum computers. I think it's an area where we can secure global competitiveness as soon as possible.]

Yonsei University plans to use the quantum computer brought in this time to specialize in the bio field, and has also set up a separate space for active research.

This place, where construction is in full swing, will have the appearance of a quantum research building in February next year.

In addition, in 2026, IBM plans to bring in a more upgraded version of quantum computers than 127 qubits.

With Korea's quantum computer technology falling behind in the world's 12th place, the introduction of high-performance quantum computers is expected to help revitalize the domestic quantum industry as well as increase international competitiveness.

I'm Park Nayeon of YTN Science.


Video coverage: Kim Young-hwan