Gyeongju, South Korea, on August 26, 2022 held a groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the near-surface medium-low radioactive waste disposal facility, announcing the start of construction.  

The second phase, covering about 120,000 square meters, is estimated to cost 262.1 billion won ($195 million) and is scheduled to be completed in 2024.  When completed, it will hold 125,000 barrels of waste with a 200-litre capacity.  

The first phase of the Gyeongju medium-Low radioactive disposal facility, which can hold 100,000 barrels of medium-low radioactive waste, started construction in 2006 and was completed in 2014.  The Korea Radioactive Waste Management Authority (KORAD) submitted an application for a construction permit for the second phase in 2015, which was approved by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) in July 2016.  South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) approved the construction permit for the facility in July 2022.  The repository will eventually be used to dispose of 800,000 barrels of low - and medium-level waste.