Gwangju Seo-gu Council Condemns Japan's Fukushima Radioactive Wastewater Discharge

Published 17 Apr.2023 09:24(KST)

All members of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council have demanded that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration take active measures regarding Japan's release of radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima.

Gwangju Seo-gu Council Condemns Japan's Fukushima Radioactive Wastewater Discharge

According to the Seo-gu Council on the 17th, the council members recently held a condemnation rally in the main assembly hall and issued a statement containing these demands.

They urged the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to “actively respond to the contaminated water discharge issue through the formation of a consultative body with neighboring countries and cooperation with international organizations, and to prepare measures to prevent damage from the contaminated water.”

They also strongly demanded that the Japanese government “immediately withdraw the contaminated water discharge plan and take measures to allow direct participation of neighboring countries in verifying safety.”

The council members stated, “The Yoon administration is abetting Japan’s marine discharge of radioactive contaminated water, thereby threatening the lives and safety of its own citizens,” and insisted, “Actively respond to this critical issue that concerns the survival rights of the people.”

They further expressed concern, saying, “Based on data disclosed by Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the nuclear power plant, the contamination level of the Fukushima water is extremely severe. Accepting the discharge of contaminated water is not merely marine pollution but could lead to the approval of imports of Fukushima seafood, which may cause greater harm to our citizens.”

Baek Jong-han, the council member who spearheaded the statement, asserted, “The state cannot protect the lives and safety of its people with ambiguous standards. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration must take all necessary measures to alleviate public anxiety through proper diplomacy with Japan and the establishment of a manual to prepare for nuclear power plant contaminated water.”