Government Accelerates Site Selection for High-Level Nuclear Waste Disposal

The South Korean government is moving forward with the selection of a site for a high-level radioactive waste disposal facility, organizing a forum to share experiences from leading countries in community engagement.

The High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency announced that they will hold the 9th International Forum on Radioactive Waste Safety Management from June 25 to 26 at the Community House Masil in Jung-gu, Seoul.

This forum aims to explore ways to build trust with local communities during the site selection process for the high-level waste disposal facility. The process was officially initiated in April when the committee approved a site suitability investigation plan.

The international forum will focus on the theme, "High-Level Waste Communication Concert: Building Trust Between Operators and Local Communities, Learning from International Cases."

The safety of the disposal facility is not only dependent on technical aspects but also on the acceptance of the local community, which is a critical factor in advancing the project. Other countries have conducted site selection processes over decades through community engagement and local support policies, making this forum particularly relevant.

Approximately 150 participants, including domestic and international waste management experts, local government officials, community members, and academics, are expected to attend. Notably, representatives from leading waste management countries such as Finland, Japan, Canada, France, Sweden, and Switzerland will share their communication experiences and conflict resolution cases.

Kim Hyun-gwon, chair of the High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee, plans to meet with officials from Posiva Solutions in Finland and the Swedish waste management agency to discuss the current status of projects and community support measures before the event.

The government aims to expand cooperation with international waste management agencies through this event and strengthen the collection of community opinions and information disclosure in future site selection processes.

Kim stated, "Establishing a safe permanent disposal system is a national task to avoid passing the burden to future generations. We will secure social acceptance based on two-way communication rather than unilateral persuasion."