Uljin-gun Holds 'In-depth Public Discussion' Urging Special High-level Radioactive Waste Act

Need for Special Act to Address Concerns Over Permanent Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel at Nuclear Power Plants

Requires Specification of Disposal Facility Target Date, Public Consultation and Support for Areas Surrounding Storage Facilities

Gyeongbuk Uljin-gun (Governor Son Byeong-bok) held a “Public In-depth Discussion on the High-level Radioactive Waste Special Act” of the Nuclear Power Plant Location Administrative Council at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul on the 16th.

Uljin County Office.

The Nuclear Power Plant Location Administrative Council consists of five local governments where domestic nuclear power plants are located: Gyeongju-si, Gijang-gun, Yeonggwang-gun, Ulju-gun, and Uljin-gun. Amid the prolonged delay of the “High-level Radioactive Waste Management Special Act” in passing through the National Assembly, the local governments hosting nuclear power plants and the nuclear science community jointly urged the prompt passage of the special act.

At the “Public In-depth Discussion” hosted by the Nuclear Power Plant Location Administrative Council and the Korean Radioactive Waste Society, participants unanimously agreed that the enactment of the High-level Radioactive Waste Act is urgent to enhance resident acceptance of dry storage facilities on nuclear power plant sites nearing saturation and to promptly begin site selection for high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. About 150 people, including local residents, experts, and related agency officials from nuclear power plant areas, attended the event and engaged in lively discussions.

Son Byeong-bok, Governor of Uljin-gun and Chairperson of the Nuclear Power Plant Location Administrative Council, said in his opening remarks, “The issue of temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel, an essential energy source in the era of climate crisis, must be urgently resolved as a national matter,” and added, “We urge the swift enactment of the High-level Radioactive Waste Act necessary for the safe management of spent nuclear fuel for future generations.”

Joo Nak-young, Mayor of Gyeongju-si, which hosts the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, dry storage facilities, and low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facilities, stated, “Gyeongju already expanded the dry storage facility (MACSTOR) last March and is currently operating it,” emphasizing, “The enactment of the High-level Radioactive Waste Act is crucial to secure interim storage and permanent disposal facilities for high-level radioactive waste.”

The reason local governments have taken direct action is due to growing concerns that the High-level Radioactive Waste Act, submitted to the National Assembly’s Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee’s Subcommittee on Industry, Trade, and Patents last November, has been drifting for a long time and may ultimately fail to be enacted.

The High-level Radioactive Waste Act, which mainly covers ▲site selection procedures and schedules ▲support for hosting regions ▲establishment of an independent administrative committee ▲installation of dry storage facilities within nuclear power plant sites for permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste, has undergone nine subcommittee reviews from last November to July this year. While both ruling and opposition parties agree on its necessity, they have yet to narrow differences on key issues.

Therefore, the nuclear power plant local governments repeatedly called for bipartisan cooperation to pass the High-level Radioactive Waste Act at the discussion. They also pointed out the urgency of enacting the act to alleviate local residents’ concerns about the permanentization of storage facilities within nuclear power plant sites.

The local government participants requested that the High-level Radioactive Waste Act specifically stipulate ▲the timeline for securing interim storage facilities for the prompt removal of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants and ▲the collection of local residents’ opinions and support measures when installing storage facilities on-site.

Lim Dong-in, Chairperson of Uljin-gun’s Special Committee on Nuclear Power Plants, stated in his presentation, “The burden caused by the lack of enactment of the High-level Radioactive Waste Act is being passed on to nuclear power plant host regions,” adding, “The enactment of the special act is necessary to establish reasonable support measures and obtain resident consent for the removal of spent nuclear fuel, operation timing of interim storage facilities, and storage facilities within nuclear power plant sites.”

Kang Kyung-sung, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who attended the discussion, emphasized, “Since the High-level Radioactive Waste Act was jointly proposed by both ruling and opposition parties and a consensus on its necessity has been formed, now is the optimal time for its enactment,” and added, “Our generation must not pass on the burden of benefits gained from safe, affordable, and clean nuclear energy to future generations.”

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