Western Copper Corporation: The Carmacks Copper Project Advances in the Permitting Process

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, May 20 (MARKET WIRE) --
Western Copper Corporation (TSX: WRN) is pleased to announce that the
Carmacks Copper Project in the Yukon Territory, has moved to the next
stage of the assessment process under the Yukon Environmental and
Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA).

On May 12, 2008, the Executive Committee of the Yukon Environmental and
Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) determined that the supplementary
information submitted by Western Copper was sufficient and that the
screening of the Carmacks Copper Project may continue. Therefore, the
project has moved forward to the next phase of the permitting process:
"Considering Comments Complete / Developing Recommendation".

Pursuant to the change in the project stage, YESAB now has up to 60 days
(with up to further 30 days if deemed necessary) to finalize their
recommendations and produce the Final Screening Report.

YESAB issued the draft screening report on the Carmacks Copper Project
for public comment on December 17, 2007. Following receipt and review of
public comments, YESAB required further clarification from Western Copper
in order to complete the final Screening Report and Recommendation and
issued a Supplementary Information Request on February 27, 2008.

Western Copper looks forward to continuing discussions with the Yukon
Government regarding the issue of a Quartz Mining License in anticipation
of the release of a positive Final Screening Report.

Mr. Dale Corman, CEO and Co-Chairman of Western Copper, comments: "We are
very pleased with the progress and we remain committed to further
consultations with the First Nation as well as the other stakeholders
with a view to moving the Carmacks Copper Project forward."

The Carmacks property, located 192 km north of Whitehorse in the Yukon
Territory, has a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated resource
estimate of 16 M tonnes containing 351.7 M lb of copper, 206.6 K oz of
gold and 2.1 M oz of Silver. It is currently being developed as an open
pit operation using solvent extraction/electrowinning technology (SX/EW).

On behalf of the board,

F. Dale Corman, C.E.O. and Co-Chairman

This press release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within
the meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical
fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding
potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results and future
plans and objectives of Western Copper Corp. are forward-looking
statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no
assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated
in such statements.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors:

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits U.S. mining
companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral
deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce.
We use certain terms on this news release, such as "measured",
"indicated", and "inferred" "resources", that the SEC guidelines strictly
prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with
the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in
Western's Form 20-F, File No. 000-52231, which may be secured from the
Company, or from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Contacts:
Western Copper Corporation
Chiara Orrigoni
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
(604) 684-9497

Western Copper Corporation
Dale Corman
Chairman & CEO
(604) 684-9497
(604) 669-2926 (FAX)
Email: info@westerncoppercorp.com
Website: www.westerncoppercorp.com

Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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