National Plan for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Unveiled

A national plan outlining the direction for high-level radioactive waste management over the next 30 years is taking shape.

The High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee announced on November 3 that it will release a draft of the "Third Basic Plan for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management" from November 4 to 23, inviting public feedback.

This basic plan is a statutory framework based on the Special Act on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management. It outlines the fundamental direction and key tasks for managing high-level waste from 2027 to 2056.

The core objective is to secure facilities capable of safely managing high-level waste. The special law stipulates that interim storage facilities should be operational by 2050, and final disposal facilities by 2060.

To achieve this, the committee has identified site selection through democratic processes and the safe construction and operation of management facilities as key tasks. This includes ensuring social acceptance through communication and collaboration with local communities, as well as creating a management ecosystem linked to relevant technologies and personnel.

However, there are significant challenges to securing these facilities. High-level waste management facilities must ensure long-term safety, and gaining the understanding and consent of local communities during the site selection process is crucial. Achieving the operational goals for interim storage and disposal facilities requires not only technical readiness but also building trust with local communities.

The draft basic plan will be accessible to the public via the Republic of Korea's electronic government gazette and the committee's website. Details on how to submit feedback will be provided through announcements on the committee's website.

Regional briefings will also be held. Starting on November 16 at the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Design Center, subsequent sessions will take place on November 17 at the Busan Education Challenge Hall and on November 18 at the Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center. All briefings will run from 2 PM to 4 PM.

These briefings will cover the current status of the high-level waste management project, the site selection process, and key aspects of the third basic plan. Following the presentations, there will be a Q&A session and open discussions to gather opinions from the general public, residents of nuclear power plant areas, academia, and experts.

For those unable to attend in person, videos of the briefings will be made available later on the committee's official YouTube channel.

The committee plans to review the feedback received during the public consultation and briefings and notify participants of the results by December 23. Following this, the plan will be refined based on consultations with relevant agencies, and it will undergo review and approval by the Nuclear Promotion Committee and the National Assembly's standing committee before finalization.

Kim Hyun-gwon, the committee chair, stated, "The safe management of high-level radioactive waste is a national task that must be pursued for the safety of both current and future generations. We will listen to the diverse voices of the public and establish a reliable management policy based on safety and transparency."