Spent nuclear fuel is estimated at 10,300 tons in late 2007, and nuclear reactors are expected to be estimated by 2016 when it is stored in a temporary in the nuclear power plant, S. Korea. Therefore, safe nuclear waste disposal is necessary for the use of nuclear energy for the nation's atomic power. Recently, the deep disposal of spent nuclear fuel is regarded as the most safe disposal method in the world. This study presents the geologic media and geologic structural elements for disposal site selection in South Korea. The basements of South Korea consist of plutonic (25.6 %), metamorphic (29.5 %), volcanic (16.2 %), sedimentary rocks (25.4 %). The plutonic and metamorphic rocks are distributed more than 50 percent among them. These crystalline rocks are considered for their hydrological, mechanical, and geochemical characteristics that are beneficial to repository performance. South Korea divides into Gyeonggi Massif, Ogcheon Belt, Yeongnam Massif, and Gyeongsang Basin based on their geologic characteristics. Also, the major faults distributed in South Korea such as Yangsan Fault System, Ogcheon Fault System, Chugaryeong Fault System. In addition, lineament analysis conducted based on its length, density, and orientation. The dominant orientation of lineament is NNE-SSW and NE-SW. The highest density of lineation is the southeastern part of South Korea. Recently, more than 60 Quaternary faults have been reported along the Yangsan and Ulsan fault systems, major structural features in SE Korea.
Nuclear power plants generate radioactive wastes which do not constitute a health hazard under properly managed. An underground repository for low- and medium-level waste has already constructed. However, the spent fuel is the most hazardous waste as it is very radioactive for long time periods. The radiotoxicity of the spent fuel decays down to the level of the naturally occurring uranium ore after about 100,000 years. Spent fuel in South Korea is estimated around 10,300 tons, which is stored in a temporary storage in the nuclear power plants. These temporary storages, those are managed at each nuclear power plants, will be saturated soon. So, the deep burial of high-level radioactive waste is required for safe disposal. Therefore, deep burial of high-level radioactive waste is currently being studied in South Korea.
