In Korea, extensive industry-academia-research research has already established many facilities and technologies for materials and chemical experiments on non-radioactive substances. However, few facilities have been built to analyze the physical and chemical properties of substances irradiated through neutron irradiation. Korea is planning to decommission Kori-1 and Wolsong-1 in 2027. Extensive analysis of low-level and intermediate-level materials is required to begin decommissioning these nuclear power plants. The material’s composition and level can be identified by analyzing the structure’s characteristics, and a cutting and decontamination plan can be established based on this. In addition, by conducting a nuclide analysis on the waste generated after cutting, suitability for disposal can be secured, and stable treatment can be performed. Accordingly, the Korea Decommissioning Research Institute (KRID) plans to secure infrastructure (hot cells) to analyze the characteristics of intermediate-level decommissioning waste. The goal is to secure high-dose/high-radiation decommissioning waste processing technology through Korea’s first intermediate-level hot cell, support domestic nuclear power plant decommissioning projects, and secure and verify procedures related to nuclide analysis of intermediate-level using hot cells. In addition, by possessing these material properties and nuclide analysis technology, KRID can have a foundation to conduct continuous research on low- and intermediate-level radioactive materials and decommissioning. The purpose of KRID’s establishment is to use this foundation in the future to improve the technological level of the nuclear industry as a whole through linkage between industry, academia, and research institutes.

Recently, the nuclear decommissioning and environmental restoration industries has significantly attracted as a new industry field due to the decision to decommission the KORI#1 and WOLSONG #1 nuclear power plant. In order to dispose of the decommissioning radioactive wastes generated during nuclear decommissioning, proper analysis is required, and disposal decisions are determined based on the analysis results. When dismantling a nuclear power plant, a few thousand of tons decommissioning waste are produced, so these require analysis for proper disposal. Therefore, a radionuclide facility for decommissioning waste analysis is essential for the disposal of the large quantities of decommissioning waste generated during nuclear power plant decommissioning. Korea Research Institute of Decommissioning (KRID) was established radionuclide analysis facilities to address above issues and support nuclear power plant decommissioning projects. The plan is to perform classification by type and radionuclide for all waste produced during nuclear power plant decommissioning and to support the disposal of radioactive wastes. In addition, we plan to establish validation methods for samples where verification methods are not established, in order to conduct efficient analysis and management. In this presentation, we will introduce the radionuclide facility currently under construction at KRID and present the space design, equipment layout, and utilization plans.

Support for nuclear power plant (NPP) dismantling & decommissioing (D&D) industry is necessary through development of the infrastructure and the D&D technology. Because KORI#1 and Wolsong#1 is planned to decommission until around 2030. Korea research institute of decommissioing (KRID) was established through the preliminary feasibility study. KRID has plan to support nuclear companies to join D&D industry. Normal facilities (Lv.1) of KRID infracstucture are currently being constructed and radiation management facilities (Lv.2) construction is expected to begin in October. Further, KRID is planning the construction of equipment to develop the procedure for radionuclide analysis through R&D project. A total period of the R&D project is 45 months, and the total R&D funding for this period is 19.4 billion won. The ultimate goal of the R&D project is to build the infractstucture base to analyze decommissioning radioactive wastes. Furthermore, the R&D project is important to reliably perform the NPP D&D.

Kori-1 and Wolseong-1 nuclear power plants were permanently shut down in June 2017 and December 2019, and are currently in the preparation stage for decommissioning. In this regard, it is necessary to secure nuclear power plant decommissioning capacity in preparation for the domestic decommissioning marketplace. To address this, the Korea Research Institute of Decommissioning (KRID) was established to build a framework for the development of integrated nuclear decommissioning technology to support the nuclear decommissioning industry. The institute is currently under construction in the Busan-Ulsan border area, and a branch is planned to be established in the Gyeongju area. Recently, R&D projects have been launched to develop equipment for the demonstration and support verification of decommissioning technology. As part of the R&D project titled “Development and demonstration of the system for radioactivity measurement at the decommissioning site of a nuclear power plant”, we introduce the plan to develop a radioactivity measurement system at the decommissioning site and establish a demonstration system. The tasks include (1) measurement of soil radioactive contamination and classification system, (2) visualization system for massive dismantling of nuclear facilities, (3) automatic remote measurement equipment for surface contamination, and (4) bulk clearance verification equipment. The final goal is to develop a real-time measurement and classification system for contaminated soil at the decommissioning site, and to establish a demonstration system for nuclear power plant decommissioning. The KRID aims to contribute and support the technological independence and commercialization for domestic decommissioning sites remediation of nuclear power plant decommissioning site by establishing a field applicability evaluation system for the environmental remediation technology and equipment demonstration.