South Korea seeks site proposals for underground radioactive waste research facility

Construction will start in 2026.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) are calling for site proposals for underground facilities for high-level radioactive waste research.

In a statement, authorities said these will be for the conduct of studies on Korea’s rock mass properties and disposal system performance at 500 metres underground.

The facilities will be built at a site separate from high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities, without admitting any radioactive waste or used nuclear fuel inside the area, and is for only research purposes, the government noted. 

Such facilities have been or are currently being operated in other territories, such as the US, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, France, and Japan, the agencies said. 

“The focus of the research facilities will be on specialised manpower training and development of disposal technologies suitable for the domestic geological environment, while also providing the general public the opportunity to experience an environment quite similar to that of a high-level radioactive waste disposal facility,” authorities said. 

A committee under KORAD will be formed to evaluate the site proposals submitted by local governments. 

Authorities aim to complete the selection process by the end of the year, whilst construction will begin in 2026, with target completion in 2032.

Korea projects an operation period of approximately 20 years starting from 2030.