• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.530-545
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• 2023

As an alternative to conventional management options for a lot of concrete waste from decommissioning of nuclear power plants, a set of scenarios for controlled recycling of decommissioning concrete waste as engineered barriers of a radioactive waste repository was proposed, and a comprehensive safety assessment model and framework covering both pre-and post-closure phases was newly developed. The new methodology was applied to a reference vault-type repository, and the ratios of derived concentration limits to unconditional clearance levels of eighteen radionuclides for controlled recycling were provided for three sets of dose criteria (0.01, 1, and 20 mSv/y for the pre-closure and 0.01 mSv/y for the post-closure phases). It turns out that decommissioning concrete waste whose concentration is much higher than the unconditional clearance level can be recycled even when the dose criterion 0.01 mSv/y is applied. Moreover, a case study on ABWR bio-shield shows that the fraction of recyclable concrete waste increases significantly by increasing the dose criterion for the radiation worker in the pre-closure phase or the duration of storage prior to recycling. The results of this study are expected to contribute to demonstrating the feasibility of controlled recycling of a lot of decommissioning concrete waste within nuclear sectors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2021

When the decommissioning of South Korea nuclear power plants is promoted in earnest with the permanent shutdown of Kori Unit 1 in 2017, a large amount of various types of radioactive waste will be generated. For minimal generation and safe management of decommissioning waste, the waste should be made by appropriate classification of the dismantling waste characteristics in accordance with physical, chemical and radiological characteristics to meet the acceptance criteria of disposal facilities. Replacing the preliminary inspection at the site for the compliance of the waste acceptance criteria (WAC) of medium and low-level radioactive waste with the generator's own radioactive waste certification program (WCP), from the perspective of disposal, the optimization of waste management at the national level contributes to the efficient availability of disposal, such as the processing of non-conforming radioactive wastes at the site. To this end, it is important to evaluate radioactivity in each system and area such as nuclear reactors before decommissioning is carried out in earnest, and the prior removal of harmful wastes is important. From waste collection to waste disposal, decommissioning waste should be managed at each stage in consideration of the acceptance criteria of disposal facilities to minimize the generation of non-conforming waste.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 1991

In order to develop the acceptance criteria for the low and intermediate level radioactive wastes for the land disposal: the following items were reviewed : classifications of radioactive wastes is respect to disposal, basic requirements and criteria that have to be considered during waste management from the origin to disposal. From these studies, the standard test methods to evaluate radioactive waste forms（or packages) were shown.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2021

Radioactive mixed waste (RMW) means waste mixed with radioactive substances and hazardous substances. In Korea, there are definitions and disposal restrictions on RMW in the Nuclear Safety Management Act, but it is difficult to apply because the contents are insufficient, so this paper proposed applicable management standards. The main RMW generated from nuclear power plants is waste oil, waste asbestos, PCB, and waste fluorescent liquid, and their radiation characteristics are mostly at very low levels and some are estimated at low levels. In addition to nuclear power plants, RMW also occurs in research institutes, industries, and hospitals. The acceptance criteria of all disposal facilities in the world basically prohibit disposal of RMW unless the hazardous substances of RMW are removed or mitigated below the standard value. Cases in Korea, the United States, Japan and Europe were reviewed to propose the RMW management standards in Korea. With reference to the results of the above review, this paper clearly defined RMW and proposed detailed management standards for the separation, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances by applying the Waste Control Act. It also mentioned legislation of management standards, regulatory methods, and acceptance criteria of disposal facility operator.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.312-323
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• 2015

This paper presents future directions for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste management. The successes and failures of siting nuclear waste repository experienced by the United States and other countries are reviewed with the current policy stance. Further, the needs for establishing management policy, considering the high-level radioactive waste produced by the dismantlement, nuclear security concerns, and cost-effectiveness analysis for the total nuclear fuel cycle, are emphasised. Technical discussions are organised into three main topics: interim storage, permanent disposal, and reprocessing. Licensing regimes are also investigated to suggest strategic plans for research and development programmes in the Republic of Korea.

• Nuclear industry
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• v.5 no.5 s.27
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• pp.12-15
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• 1985

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 1979

• Nuclear industry
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• v.6 no.7 s.41
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• pp.13-19
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• 1986

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.370-379
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• 2002

In the Korean electricity supply structure, the role of nuclear power generation is essential. But, the delaying of radioactive waste management program induces negative impact to the stable electricity supply. Despite the continuing endeavors of Korean Government and nuclear power industry, radioactive waste management program of Korea is experiencing a continuing setback. In this background, the study examined the past and current policy and recommends that; Long term safety assurance should be the prime objective of radioactive waste management; Siting process should be transparent and opened to the public with the involvement of safety regulatory authority; A new neutral organization which has no conflicts of interest with any other existing organizations should be established to coordinate and manage the R&D programs.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.159-191
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• 2016

In order to deal with uncertainty and conflicting interests in technological risk policy-making, various participatory decision-making models have been practiced. This participatory approach is an alterative to the traditional process of science and technology policy-making where scientific experts provide evidence and government officials make decisions. However, there still remain different opinions on who should play what kind of role in decision-making process. Therefore this paper examines the division of labour in the public deliberations for radioactive waste management policy carried out in the UK and Korea. It discusses the ways in which various actors are defined, and the rationales are employed for allocating actors to certain roles and participatory methods. In so doing, this paper unfolds the ways in which the participatory decision-making process for risk governance is delivered in real policy context. Similarities and differences revealed in the division of labour of two cases contribute to development of radioactive waste management policy and the policy instruments for risk governance.