High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee Begins Operations

A specialized committee tasked with reviewing policies for managing high-level radioactive waste has officially begun its activities. In its first meeting, the committee will examine the draft of the third basic plan for high-level radioactive waste management and the criteria for excluding unsuitable disposal site areas.

The High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee announced on August 20 that it will hold its first sector-specific committee meeting on August 21 at the Sangyeonjae in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The specialized committee is an expert advisory body under the High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee, responsible for conducting necessary research and professional reviews related to waste management policies. It was established based on the Special Act on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management.

The committee is divided into four sectors: site selection, storage and transportation, disposal, and communication. Since the end of June, the High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee has received candidate recommendations from 25 organizations, including relevant associations, academic societies, research institutions, and civil society, and has appointed an initial 35 members after verifying their qualifications. The term for committee members is two years from the date of appointment.

During the first meeting, the committee will review the draft of the third basic plan for high-level radioactive waste management and the criteria for excluding unsuitable areas for high-level radioactive waste management facilities. The exclusion criteria aim to eliminate geologically unstable regions from consideration in the early stages of site selection, serving as a starting point for future disposal facility location procedures.

Given that the establishment of high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities requires a lengthy process from site selection to construction and operation, securing the scientific validity and procedural reliability of the initial exclusion criteria is crucial. The specialized committee will also discuss support measures for investigation and hosting regions, the development of Korean disposal technologies, and long-term communication and outreach strategies.

Kim Hyun-gwon, chair of the High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee, stated, "The launch of the specialized committee is an important foundation for securing public trust in policies based on high-level expertise. We will establish a management system for high-level radioactive waste that assures the public through thorough scientific verification and sincere communication."