Due to the decades-long debate between local residents and the government based on environmental reasons, a proposal to build a low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste site by 2008 and establish a high-level radioactive waste site later was concluded on 17 December 2004. It is anticipated that the first phase will be to select storage sites for the low-and intermediate-level waste sites and, if the plan proceeds as expected, the second phase will be aimed at high-level waste sites."

Lee Hee-beom, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) conveyed that a detailed schedule to select a candidate for the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste site will be announced early next year and the location for the waste site will be decided upon after there has been an adequate enough correlating of the social consensus.” The two step construction plan was implemented because the government failed to find a candidate for the waste site as none of the candidates had submitted their applications by the proposed deadline of 30 November 2004.

The government has been unable to find a candidate following the government's plan to construct a nuclear waste repository at Wido, an island in the West Sea, due to strong opposition from the residents in February of this year. The government hopes to find a suitable candidate for the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste site, which is not as dangerous as a high-level radioactive waste site. “Low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste sites are not intended for high-level radioactive waste storage,” Lee said. Industry reports have stressed that the storage capacity for Korea's low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, including such things as protective clothing, filters, tools, etc. contaminated by radiation could be exceeded by around 2008.

Notwithstanding the government's new plan, however, it is uncertain whether the government will be able to obtain a candidate for the nuclear waste site as planned due to the fact that the environmental public groups have already expressed their opposition and that they have pressured the government to secure an alternative to replace nuclear power generation altogether.

A vast amount of industry experts, however, have raised doubts on the whole project, indicating that the opposition of the residents will not depreciate, no matter what multi-track methods the government uses to address such a sensitive issue.