The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea announced that the site evaluation committee under the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) has made the final selection of Taebaek City, Gangwon Province, as the site for underground high-level radioactive waste research facilities during today’s committee meeting.


The call for the radioactive waste research facility site proposal was announced in June this year, to which Taebaek City became the sole applicant. Composed of 20 private sector committee members, the site evaluation committee confirmed Taebaek City as the research facilities site through a fair and objective review process based on eight assessment criteria.


The underground research facilities are for conducting studies on Korea’s rock mass properties and disposal system performance at 500m underground, at a depth similar to that of disposal facilities. Radioactive waste or used nuclear fuel will not be admitted inside the area.


Technologies developed in the facilities will be utilized in the process of site selection, construction, and operation of radioactive waste disposal facilities following the legislation of the Special Act on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management (“Special Act”). After completion, the research facilities will be open to the general public to provide the opportunity to experience an environment quite similar to that of a high-level radioactive waste disposal facility.


MOTIE plans to commence construction of the facilities beginning in 2026 ensuing a prefeasibility study in 2025 and other necessary procedures and make continued effort for the pending Special Act to swiftly pass the National Assembly.