Cho Seung-soo, a　lawmaker with the New Progressive Party, and environmental groups issued a shocking report yesterday on the results of a study on the radioactive waste disposal site currently under construction in the Gyeongju area. They revealed that the selection of the dump site through a local referendum that took place in November 2005, following considerable controversy, was based on unreliable reports. If what they are saying is correct, a detailed geological study must be issued immediately in order for appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the safety of the Gyeongju dump site.

During the construction of the radioactive waste facility in Gyeongju, an ancient city with a history dating back a thousand years, the government had declared that they worked to secure the highest levels of safety. A look, however, at site reports conducted at the time of the selection clearly shows these statements to be false. First of all, it appears the site’s safety study was conducted superficially.

The conclusion that the site was suitable for a radioactive waste disposal facility was reached after a mere four exploratory holes were dug over a period of just four months. The assessment should have placed a high priority on safety, and it is unbelievable that it was conducted in such a slipshod manner.

Furthermore, although the site assessment revealed fracture zones that made it unsuitable for housing a radioactive waste disposal facility, the site was selected without any further detailed study. The safety of the site was espoused for the selection process, but in reality, safety was given short shrift. Problems with the foundation have since been revealed through the construction process, and completion of the project, originally set for the end of 2009, has been delayed by some two and a half years due to additional time needed for reinforcement work. In other words, the inadequacy of the early study has resulted in current setbacks in the facility’s development.

A fact-finding team consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Geological Society of Korea analyzed the causes of the construction delay, but they were also hasty in their conclusions. The team conducted their study during a short period of time, from June 22 to July 17 of this year, and determined that although a small-scale fracture zone had developed into a 100 meter stretch at the entrance of a tunnel, it would not affect the facility’s safety. This is not an area where conclusions should be reached so quickly. Environmental groups are claiming that the weakness of the base rock limits the extent reinforcements can be engineered.

A decision on the safety of a radioactive waste disposal facility should be reached based on confidence in a thorough geological study. If there is a problem with the site’s foundation, assurances need to be made that reinforcements are possible to ensure the facility’s safety, otherwise, the construction should come to a halt. Since construction is already underway, the government cannot afford to dodge this issue.

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