The High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee has established a nine-member panel and specialized subcommittees in various fields, moving forward with the site selection process for management facilities. The committee plans to complete the exclusion of unsuitable areas nationwide by the end of this year and begin soliciting candidate sites for basic investigations starting next year.
On October 11, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment reported that the committee, marking its first anniversary, unveiled its achievements and future plans. The committee was established on September 26, 2025, in accordance with the enforcement of the Special Act on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management.
Since its first meeting in February, the committee has held a total of eight plenary sessions as of last month. In April, it completed its nine-member structure by appointing representatives recommended by the National Assembly. Additionally, four specialized subcommittees, consisting of 35 experts, have been activated to focus on areas such as site selection, storage and transportation, disposal, and communication. Experts were selected based on recommendations from relevant academic societies, associations, research institutions, and civil society.
The site selection process has also been clarified. During its third meeting in April, the committee approved the 'Site Suitability Investigation Plan' for high-level radioactive waste management facilities. It has begun developing criteria for excluding unsuitable areas based on geological and scientific assessments before determining candidate regions for management facilities.
The committee's approach is to exclude unsuitable areas based on objective scientific criteria rather than selecting specific regions first and then assessing their suitability. It aims to finalize the third basic plan for high-level radioactive waste management by the end of this year. This plan will include projections for spent nuclear fuel generation, site selection and facility planning, investment strategies, technology development, and workforce training.
The exclusion of unsuitable areas across the entire country is expected to be completed this year, with the solicitation of candidate sites for basic investigations to begin next year. The committee will also detail support measures for participating regions. The management facility for high-level radioactive waste will undergo a process of excluding unsuitable areas, soliciting candidate sites, and conducting basic and in-depth investigations before selecting the final site.
According to the special legislation, the goal is to operate interim storage facilities by 2050 and permanent disposal facilities by 2060. Based on current timelines, there are approximately 24 years remaining until the interim storage facilities are operational and about 34 years until the permanent disposal facilities are in place. Given that the site selection, investigation, and facility construction processes can take decades, the solicitation of candidate sites next year is expected to be a significant milestone in the overall schedule.
The committee is also engaging in community outreach to ensure social acceptance. It has been meeting with local governments and resident representatives from regions such as Yeonggwang, Gochang, Jangheung, and Uljin to gather opinions and has been making the minutes of specialized committee meetings public. In June, it invited representatives from Japan, Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland, who are involved in radioactive waste management, to share their experiences in site selection and strategies for securing community acceptance.
Kim Hyun-gwon, chair of the management committee, stated, "If the past year was about establishing the system and foundation to address a national challenge, it is now time to develop concrete solutions that the public and local communities can trust. We will prioritize scientific safety while building social trust through sufficient dialogue and transparent information sharing."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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