Amid 'Worst' Korea-Japan Relations, Japan's Fukushima Contaminated Water Discharge... Concerns Over 'Tritium'

On the 13th, Koo Yoon-chul, Minister for Government Policy Coordination, is presiding over an emergency vice-ministerial meeting related to the discharge of radioactive contaminated water caused by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident by the Japanese government at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun, Sejong = Reporter Son Seon-hee] The South Korean government immediately opposed Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, stating that it is "unacceptable." With about two years remaining until the actual discharge, the government plans to respond in cooperation with the international community until then. Amid worsening Korea-Japan relations and the U.S. demand for trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan, attention is focused on how this contaminated water discharge issue will act as a diplomatic variable in this complex environment.

On the 13th, the South Korean government acted swiftly upon hearing the news of Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the nuclear power plant. Koo Yoon-cheol, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, convened an emergency vice-ministerial meeting around 10 a.m. that day. Vice ministers from related ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism attended the meeting.

An official from the Office for Government Policy Coordination stated, "Our government finds it difficult to accept (Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water)," adding, "Since it is expected to take about two years until the actual discharge, we will respond in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the international community during that period."

On the 12th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement through its spokesperson in response to news that Japan's final decision was imminent, expressing "serious concerns as this decision could have direct and indirect impacts on the safety of our citizens and the surrounding environment."

Japan claims it will filter contaminants with specialized equipment before discharge, but the inability to filter out tritium remains a concern. The contaminated water to be discharged from the Fukushima nuclear power plant contains tritium, which can cause radiation exposure inside the human body. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) processes the contaminated water generated at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant using a multi-nuclide removal facility (ALPS) and stores it in tanks on the nuclear plant site. However, even after ALPS treatment, tritium remains in the contaminated water. The Japanese government plans to dilute the contaminated water until the radiation level of tritium is below 1,500 becquerels per liter, which is lower than the standard, before releasing it.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since Japan's coastal currents flow toward the Pacific Ocean rather than toward South Korea, the discharged contaminated water is generally analyzed to circulate along the Pacific currents and return to South Korea's East Sea after 4 to 5 years. However, some research suggests that the contaminated water could affect Korea at a faster rate. The Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Germany released a simulation study indicating that Fukushima contaminated water could reach Jeju Island in 200 days and the East Sea coastal waters after 280 days.

On the 12th, Professor Lee Young-chae of the Department of International Society at Keisen Jogakuen University in Japan appeared on MBC's "Pyo Chang-won's News High Kick" and said, "It will effectively pollute not only the seas in front of Japan but the oceans worldwide, so it should be recognized as a disaster for the entire planet."

Meanwhile, Japan's decision to proceed with the discharge despite South Korea's opposition is also linked to the deterioration of Korea-Japan relations. Although Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong has been in office for two months, the ministers of the two countries have yet to even hold a phone conversation. The biggest reason is the unresolved differences over historical issues such as comfort women and forced labor. On the 1st, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent Lee Sang-ryeol, Director-General of the Asia-Pacific Bureau, to Tokyo to discuss the Fukushima contaminated water discharge issue. Although it was the first face-to-face director-general level meeting in five months, it ended without significant progress. Despite South Korea expressing willingness to engage in dialogue, Japan has maintained a high-handed stance, demanding solutions on issues like comfort women, making it unlikely that bilateral consultations on major issues such as contaminated water discharge will be easy in the near future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.