[Pro-Nuclear, Starting from the Waste Disposal Site] It Took 13 Years Just to Select the Site... High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility Left Untouched by Both Parties

Delay in National Assembly Review of High-Level Radioactive Waste Special Act
Golden Time May Pass as Focus Shifts to Second Half Election Mode
Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facilities at Nuclear Plants Are Saturated

The 'golden time' to select a permanent disposal site for high-level radioactive waste, such as spent nuclear fuel accumulating at nuclear power plants, is passing. Since 2021, both ruling and opposition parties have proposed three special laws to establish a disposal site for high-level radioactive waste, but they have yet to bear fruit. Existing radioactive waste disposal sites are nearly full and on the verge of overflowing. If action is not taken quickly, various problems will arise.

Experts point out that since it can take over 40 years to select, construct, and operate a disposal site, bipartisan cooperation is necessary. With the April 10 general election next year approaching, there are concerns that if the legislation is delayed beyond this year, it could result in a 'missed opportunity' for establishing the law.

A press conference urging the rapid enactment of the "Special Act on the Management of High-Level Radioactive Waste," attended by local government heads belonging to the Administrative Council of Local Governments with Nuclear Power Plants, People Power Party lawmakers Lee In-seon, Han Mu-gyeong, Kim Young-sik, and Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Gae-ho, was held on the morning of the 12th at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul. Son Byeong-bok, the mayor of Uljin County, is speaking. [Image source=Yonhap News]

High-level radioactive waste refers to radionuclides that emit high heat and have high radioactivity, with spent nuclear fuel being a representative example. Spent nuclear fuel has high radioactivity due to fission products generated during nuclear fission reactions inside the reactor, and it continues to generate heat even after the fission reactions have ceased. To safely manage it, a disposal facility that cools the heat and blocks radiation is essential.

Currently, three bills have been proposed to establish a high-level radioactive waste disposal facility. In 2021, Representative Kim Seong-hwan of the Democratic Party of Korea, and last year, Representatives Kim Young-sik and Lee In-seon of the People Power Party each introduced bills.

The National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee's bill subcommittee reviewed the proposals seven times until last month but failed to reach an agreement. Especially as the National Assembly is expected to enter election mode from the second half of the year, if the special law is not passed in the first half, it may be abandoned.

Professor Yoon Jong-il of KAIST's Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering pointed out, "Despite multiple reviews in the National Assembly, the special law is on the verge of collapse due to a lack of political will to narrow differences and resolve contentious issues."

The five local governments hosting nuclear power plants (Uljin County, Gyeongju City, Yeonggwang County, Gijang County, and Ulju County) recently held a press conference at the National Assembly to raise their voices. Amid the government's shifting policy stance between nuclear power promotion and denuclearization, these local governments have lived with high-level radioactive waste?spent nuclear fuel emitting high levels of radioactivity after nuclear power plant construction?and urged the passage of the special law.

While discussions on the special law have stalled, spent nuclear fuel continues to accumulate. As of the first quarter, the total amount of spent nuclear fuel generated domestically is 18,550 tons (521,828 assemblies). It is stored in wet and dry storage facilities at 27 domestic nuclear power plant sites, either currently operating or decommissioned.

The Korean Radioactive Waste Society forecasts that storage facilities will sequentially reach saturation starting with Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant (78.7% saturation) in 2030, Hanul Nuclear Power Plant (76.3%) in 2031, and Kori Nuclear Power Plant (87.6%) in 2032.

The canister of the dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant [Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-hak, head of the High-Level Radioactive Waste Promotion Division at the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, explained, "Even if the special law is enacted, the procedure to select a disposal site for high-level radioactive waste is expected to take at least 13 years," adding, "Including the selection of the disposal site, it is urgent to expand storage facilities within nuclear power plants until then."

The government has made nine attempts over 40 years since establishing the Radioactive Waste Management Committee in 1983 to secure disposal facility sites. However, all efforts, including those at Anmyeondo, Gureopdo, and Buan, have failed due to unilateral government project promotion and opposition from local residents. Therefore, experts emphasize that the special law should guarantee resident participation in the site selection process to increase local acceptance.

Additionally, since spent nuclear fuel is currently stored temporarily within nuclear power plant sites, there is a need to assure local residents that the special law does not imply permanent storage facilities.

In particular, the high-level radioactive waste disposal site is an issue that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which advocates a pro-nuclear stance, must resolve. The Yoon administration included nuclear power in the Korean Green Taxonomy, known as 'K-Taxonomy,' but for nuclear power to be recognized as a carbon-free energy source, it requires the enactment of a special law that secures and implements plans for a high-level radioactive waste disposal site.

Other countries operating nuclear power plants have already begun constructing disposal sites. Finland is building a disposal facility in the underground bedrock of the Olkiluoto area and plans to start operations in 2024. Sweden and France have completed site selection and are constructing deep geological disposal facilities, while Switzerland and Germany are in the process of selecting sites.

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