Global Radioactive Waste Disposal Trends and Prospects

Abstract

Nuclear power generation, which began in the Soviet Union in June 1954, has now become a main source of electrical energy in 33 countries around the world. However, radioactive waste and its safety have always been at the center of controversy, and even after 70 years, there is no official regulation on the disposal of radioactive waste under international law. In this review, the policies and current status of radioactive waste disposal in major countries around the world, including Korea, are investigated. Based on this, the direction for radioactive waste management in Korea was presented. Currently, radioactive waste is disposed of in two ways. Finland, Sweden, and France are conducting deep permanent disposal according to the recommendation of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Japan, the United Kingdom, and India are promoting reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel to reduce waste and the volume of the repository. Korea has been temporarily storing radioactive waste at the site of the power plant since the completion of Kori Unit 1 in 1978, but it is expected that the capacity of the temporary storage facility will reach its limit in 2031. Accordingly, the securing of a permanent disposal site and the development of reprocessing technology are being studied together, but no tangible results have been achieved so far. Korea's radioactive waste disposal has problems such as a small land area, institutional difficulties in developing reprocessing technology, frequent policy changes, ignorance and indifference, and lack of smooth communication. Although public concern about nuclear power generation has increased due to the Fukushima disaster, not many people are interested in spent nuclear fuel. Within the framework of reprocessing and permanent disposal, Korea should refrain from frequent policy changes that can confuse public opinion and research and development, and come up with a long-term realistic policy.