Golden Time for High-Level Radioactive Waste Special Act "National Assembly Must Hurry Discussions"

Nuclear power scientists and residents of nuclear power plant areas have united in calling for the enactment of the 'High-Level Radioactive Waste Special Act.'

The Korean Radioactive Waste Society and the Korean Nuclear Society held a joint meeting on the 14th at the Osong Hotel in Sejong City with local residents and officials from nuclear power plant areas, as well as university students belonging to the Green Nuclear Student Alliance, and announced this position.

The High-Level Act includes provisions for the permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants, such as ▲the site selection procedures and operational schedule for disposal facilities ▲support systems for disposal facility hosting areas ▲establishment of an independent administrative committee ▲procedures for installing temporary storage facilities within nuclear power plant sites.

Three bills related to the High-Level Act, proposed by both ruling and opposition parties, are currently being discussed in the Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee. However, no progress has been made yet.

The attendees of the meeting argued that the government must promptly secure disposal sites for high-level radioactive waste so that residents of nuclear power plant areas can alleviate their concerns about delays in the permanent disposal of such waste.

They also agreed that sustainable use of nuclear power as a carbon-neutral energy source is possible, and that the High-Level Act should be passed by the National Assembly this month to prevent passing the responsibility of the current generation onto future generations.

In particular, they pointed out that if the National Assembly misses the opportunity to pass the bill by repeating unproductive debates ahead of next year’s general election, it would be a lost chance to solve a national challenge.

Yoon Jong-il, head of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering at KAIST, said, "The reason the site selection for the high-level radioactive waste disposal facility has stalled is due to the government’s unilateral policy implementation and policy inconsistency," urging both ruling and opposition parties to focus on cooperation in the spirit of bipartisan governance to pass the High-Level Act.

Jo Jae-wan, a KAIST student and representative of the Green Nuclear Student Alliance, said, "If we care about future generations, we must quickly advance the construction of the high-level radioactive waste disposal facility," adding, "The High-Level Act provides the current generation with an opportunity to leave a better environment to future generations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.