Used solely as a research facility, no spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste allowed
Construction project to start in 2026 with completion targeted for 2032
The government has launched a site solicitation for an underground research facility dedicated to high-level radioactive waste. This research facility will be constructed on a site separate from the high-level radioactive waste disposal site and is purely for research purposes; no spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste will be brought in during its operation.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 18th, together with the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, the start of the site solicitation to secure an underground research facility for high-level radioactive waste.
The government has previously stated its policy to secure waste management technology using an underground research facility in the 2nd Basic Plan for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management (December 2021) and the High-Level Radioactive Waste Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap (February 2024).
Concept plan for the aboveground (right) and underground facilities of the research underground research facility.
The underground research facility is designed to conduct experiments and research on Korea’s unique rock characteristics and the performance of the Korean-style disposal system at a depth similar to disposal facilities (approximately 500 meters underground). The research facility will be built on a site separate from the high-level radioactive waste disposal site. No spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste will be brought into the research facility at all. Eight countries, including the United States, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, France, and Japan, are currently operating or have previously operated underground research facilities. Domestically, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute operates an underground disposal research facility at a depth of 120 meters on its site, but due to the difference in depth, there are limitations in research related to deep geological disposal.
The underground research facility will focus on developing disposal technologies suitable for the domestic geological environment and training specialized personnel. It will also serve as a facility where the general public can experience an environment similar to that of a high-level radioactive waste disposal site. The government plans to utilize the technologies developed at this facility during the site selection, construction, and operation phases of the high-level radioactive waste disposal site, which will be pursued following the enactment of the Special Act on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management.
For site selection of the research facility, the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency will form a separate Site Selection Evaluation Committee. Based on the attraction plans submitted by basic local governments and on-site investigations, eight evaluation criteria including rock type suitability will be assessed, with the goal of completing site selection within this year. Construction is planned to begin in 2026, with final completion targeted for 2032, and the operation period is expected to be about 20 years starting from 2030.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency will hold a project briefing session for interested local governments on the 25th. Letters of intent to attract the facility will be accepted until July 19, and attraction plans until August 2.
An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated, "The underground research facility for high-level radioactive waste is an essential facility for technology development and pre-verification of disposal system safety before site selection of the disposal facility. To comply with the 37-year roadmap in the high-level waste basic plan, it is necessary to promptly establish the underground research facility and secure the technology in a timely manner."
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