Name: WM발표 최종
Uploaded: 2026-01-27T12:05:02.000Z
Duration: 10 min 55 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Good morning, distinguished guests, experts and policymakers.

It is a great honor to address this esteemed audience today.

I am Beomin Kim from the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency.

Radioactive waste management is not merely a technical task.

It is the keystone of sustainable nuclear energy.

Today, I am proud to present the Republic of Korea's Strategic Roadmap, the third Master Plan for Low and Intermediate Radioactive Waste Management covering the next 30 years from 2025 to 2054.

To provide a comprehensive overview, my presentation is structured into four key overview and evaluation.

We will review the accomplishments of our previous plan, policy, environment.

We will analyze the shifting landscape, including the decommissioning era.

I will unveil our new vision and the 12 key implementation tasks Investment Plan Finally, I will outline our financial commitment to realizing this roadmap.

Let's begin by evaluating our progress and the foundation we have built.

In Korea, waste management is strictly governed by the Radioactive Waste Management act.

Under Article 6, the government is mandated to establish a comprehensive master plan every five years.

This third Master Plan is the result of a rigorous consensus building process.

Over the past year, we operated a joint task force with the government, research institutes and industry experts and held public hearings to ensure transparency and validate our direction.

Under the second Master Plan, we achieved significant milestones.

Most notably, we secured the operational capability of our first disposal facility without a single safety incident.

The expansion of infrastructure, specifically the Phase two surface repository, experienced delays.

This was a conscious decision to prioritize safety verification over speed.

We accepted these schedule adjustments to ensure unshakable public trust.

Please direct your attention to the screen.

These facilities represent Karad's unique complex disposal system.

On the far left is the entrance to our Phase one cavern silo.

Located deep underground, which has been operating stably in the center, is our Phase two surface repository.

I'm pleased to report that this facility was successfully completed in late 2025 and is currently full operation.

Handling large volumes of waste on the right is the concept for our future Phase three Near Surface Trench.

By mastering all three disposal methods, Cavern, surface and trench, Karad optimizes disposal efficiency based on the specific radioactivity levels and characteristics of the waste.

Beyond infrastructure, we have advanced our technical capabilities.

We established precise waste acceptance criteria for diverse waste streams and completed the low and intermediate Waste Analysis Center.

This facility allows us to independently verify waste characterization, ensuring strict compliance before disposal.

With the hardware now fully operational, our focus shifts to maximizing disposal throughput.

We have also innovated our safety systems through digital transformation.

We automated the waste inventory system and reinforced drainage infrastructure to withstand climate change impacts.

Regarding public acceptance, we shifted to interactive digital platforms to engage effectively with local communities and the younger generation.

Fostering a culture of Transparency now let's examine the changing policy environment driving our new strategy.

Three major factors are reshaping our energy policy shift.

Korea is expanding its nuclear portfolio, including the continued operation of existing plants and the introduction of SMRs small modular reactors Decommissioning Era with the dismantling of the Corey 1 reactor imminent, we are entering a phase of generating massive decommissioning waste.

Fourth, Industrial Revolution technologies like AI and robotics offer new tools for radiation safety management.

By 2055, the cumulative volume of radioactive waste is projected to reach approximately 420,000 drums.

Please note the yellow bars representing decommissioning waste.

This data dictates a strategic pivot moving from an operation centric system to a decommissioning ready system.

This implies three Critical efficiency to handle high volumes rapidly Future readiness to prepare for new waste forms and nuclides Public trust to sustain operations amidst these changes based on these insights, we have defined our vision.

Our vision is safe radioactive waste management under national responsibility together with the public.

This vision is supported by five principles including Safety first, state responsibility and transparency.

To realize this vision, we have established three strategic goals and 12 key implementation tasks.

The goals focus on advancing the management system, building a future ready foundation and strengthening public trust.

Now I will detail the 12 key implementation tasks.

Task 1 One efficiency to prevent saturation at on site storage facilities we are expanding our centralized buffer storage to 17,000 drums by 2029.

Simultaneously, we are operating our cavern surface and trench facilities as a flexible integrated network to maximize disposal efficiency.

Task 21 Capacity Optimization we are transitioning from overly conservative models to data driven safety assessments.

By rationalizing radionuclide concentration limits based on scientific data, we can significantly increase the disposal capacity within the same footprint without compromising safety.

Task 13 technology our goal is zero non conforming waste.

We are constructing a comprehensive treatment facility equipped with high force compaction and plasma melting technologies.

This allows us to treat problematic waste on site, ensuring high volume reduction and stability.

Task 14 Smart Safety we are implementing an AI and IoT based radiation monitoring system.

This ensures 24, 7 surveillance and immediate response capabilities against risks including climate induced disasters.

Task 21 Inventory Management we are launching the National Integrated Radioactive Waste Information System.

This system tracks every package from cradle to grave, ensuring total transparency and providing accurate data for policy decisions.

Task 22 advanced acceptance criteria we are proactively developing waste acceptance criteria for decommissioning waste before it is generated.

We are also establishing a comprehensive characterization center to provide one stop analysis services for complex waste streams.

Task 23 R&D Innovation we are integrating digital twins for safety simulation and deploying drones and robots for inspection.

This minimizes human radiation exposure and enhances the precision of our safety case.

Task 24 Ecosystem Activation we are opening our facilities as testbeds for private companies and fostering technical experts.

Our goal is to cultivate a robust private led industry ecosystem.

Task 25 Global cooperation Korea is eager to share our experience in constructing and operating a complex disposal system.

We aim to collaborate on global standards and package our management model for international partnership.

Task 31 Public Participation we are operating a public communication platform to involve citizens directly in policymaking process.

We believe that an informed public is our best partner in ensuring public acceptance.

Task 32 Strengthening public role we are providing technical support for packaging, transport and analysis to small scale waste generators such as hospitals and research labs, ensuring safety across the board.

Task 33 Community Coexistence we are moving beyond financial aid to solving local issues, creating jobs and improving safety infrastructure.

We strive to grow with our host community.

Finally, let's review our investment plan to realize this roadmap.

The Korean government has committed to investing approximately 557 billion Korean won over the next five years.

Over 82% of this budget is allocated to the construction and operation of disposal facilities, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to infrastructure and and safety.

We have established a rigorous feedback system to monitor progress.

Annually, we will work hand in hand with the government, industry and the public to ensure every milestone is met.

This brings me to the end of my presentation.

We have covered our achievements, the challenges of the decommissioning era and our concrete action plan.

I hope this has provided a clear understanding of Korea's direction in radioactive waste management.

Karad remains dedicated to creating a safer, sustainable future through innovation.