South Korean city of Kyongju has accepted to store nuclear dump in exchange for government subsidies worth us $288.2 million and us $5-10 million a year as storage fees.

Kyongju city won the vote to host the country's first permanent storage site for nuclear waste beating three other cities vying for it. About 90 per cent of city residents voted a "yes' in this regard since they are more interested in economic development than the impact on tourism and environment. "The government had restricted the development of the region for nearly 40 years due to the Cultural Properties Protection Law,' says a local resident.