A group of Korean nuclear researchers and experts has called on the government to build an interim facility to store spent nuclear fuel before 2024.
Korea's Ministry of Knowledge Economy said Monday that it recently received the proposals from the consortium of nuclear academic associations.
Nuclear waste is currently kept in temporary storage units in each nuclear power plant but experts predict that there will be no free space in four years time.
The Korean government has been taking a passive stance on this issue until now, but ministry officials say they plan to decide on a framework to implement this policy.
As spent fuel rods are highly radioactive, they must be held in storage before the government decides on an effective method of disposal.

Reporter : chkim@arirang.co.kr