Radwaste management activities in the Republic of Korea

Being short of natural resources, the Republic of Korea depends relatively large portion of its power generation upon nuclear energy. For the continuous utilization of nuclear energy, the public should be convinced that the necessary technologies and wherewithals are already available for the guarantee of the safe management of radwastes. The status and national policy of the radwaste management in Korea including R and D activities are covered herein. The outgoing activities of the Korea Advanced Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in the field of radwaste management include the areas of handling, treatment, storage and disposal of various radwastes, safety assessment of radwaste disposal, and the decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. In compliance with the national radwaste management program, a centralized repository is expected to be operable by the early 1990's in the Republic