South Korea plans site selection for high-level radioactive waste

The High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee has announced its roadmap for selecting sites for high-level radioactive waste facilities. Following its first year of establishing decision-making frameworks, the committee plans to finalize the exclusion of unsuitable areas based on scientific and geological criteria by the end of this year.

Starting next year, the committee will launch a public call for candidate sites for basic investigations. The long-term objectives include operating an interim storage facility by 2050 and a permanent disposal facility by 2060. To support this, the committee is developing the third basic plan for high-level radioactive waste management, which will cover fuel status, site selection, investment, and technical development.

In addition to centralized disposal sites, the committee is coordinating with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to manage dry storage facilities at existing nuclear power plant sites. The committee emphasized a commitment to transparency and community engagement, citing international discussions with experts from Japan, Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland to share best practices in safety and stakeholder communication.