Prime Minister Han Deok-su: "Direct Sampling of Fukushima Specimens? Excessive Demand"

17th Han Duck-soo Prime Minister Press Conference
"Korean Fukushima Inspection Team, Will Monitor Verification"
Controversy Over Exclusion of Civilians Also 'No Problem'

The government dismissed as excessive the calls from some quarters to include civilian participants in the inspection team for the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan and to directly collect contaminated water samples. It explained that it is practically difficult for the Korean side to independently collect contaminated water samples and take unilateral actions while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is participating and leading the verification process.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo

On the 17th, at a press conference held at the Government Complex Sejong, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo emphasized, “Korea’s role is to observe whether the verification process conducted by Japan and the IAEA is reliable from an expert standpoint,” adding, “It is not a matter of distrusting everything Japan does and collecting a sample on the spot for immediate inspection.” He further stated, “The IAEA has the duty to oversee the entire contaminated water discharge process, and Korea’s role is to confirm any related concerns.”

Currently, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is proceeding with the procedure to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. Alongside the IAEA, Korea is dispatching a government inspection team to verify safety, but controversy arose over the absence of civilian experts and the decision not to directly collect contaminated water samples. The Democratic Party of Korea also held a press conference the previous day demanding “the collection of samples related to the storage status of Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water and securing original data.”

At the press conference, Han Moon-kyu, Minister for Government Policy Coordination, said, “Three research institutes under the IAEA and four countries share contaminated water samples, so it is excessive for only Korea to separately request to collect samples,” adding, “Korea will verify the samples after receiving certification of the objectivity of its verification capabilities.”

Regarding the controversy over excluding civilian experts, the position was that there is no problem. Prime Minister Han said, “I hope people trust the perspectives of the experts,” and added, “The IAEA holds the position that it is unimaginable for them to make a decision opposing the discharge of contaminated water, which is considered dangerous.” Minister Han also said, “Government agency PhDs have sufficient expertise,” and “The selection of civilian experts was complicated due to issues of representation, which is why it was handled this way.”

Prime Minister Han also shared his reflections ahead of the first anniversary of his inauguration on the 21st. He said, “It was a year of overcoming economic crises and laying the foundation for a leap forward,” but also evaluated, “It is hard to say that communication and persuasion with the public under the changed domestic and international environment were well done.” He confessed, “There are regrets, but the government is determined to further persuade stakeholders and make efforts.”

In response to criticism that the government’s reform policies are progressing slowly, he said, “I do not think so.” Prime Minister Han pointed out, “If the legislation of reform tasks had been faster, the effects would have been more visible,” noting, “Nearly 300 laws are submitted to the National Assembly as national tasks, but fewer than 200 have passed.”

He continued, “The government announced it would release important policies and gather public opinion, but now plans to prioritize persuasion and public discussion first,” adding, “We will devote more time to persuading the political circles, stakeholders, the media, and civic groups.”

Regarding the recent opposition party’s unilateral passage of a bill for interest-free repayment of student loans after employment, he responded, “The government needs to carefully review whether it aligns with the basic principle of strongly protecting truly vulnerable people,” and cautioned, “It is necessary to be cautious about the approach that unilateral widespread exemptions are simply good.” However, he said the president’s exercise of the veto power “has not been decided.”

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