Contamination Dispute Escalates... Ruling Party Calls Opposition's Letter "National Embarrassment"

Democratic Party Plans to Send Letter to Stop Contaminated Water Discharge
Ruling Party: "Spreading Contaminated Water Rumors... Now Abroad"

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to send a letter to countries belonging to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) proposing a joint response to Japan's discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, amid criticism from the ruling party. The People Power Party compared the contaminated water offensive to the 'THAAD rumor' and pointed out that it is "like stirring up rumors even outside the country."

On the 22nd, Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting, "The Democratic Party announced that it plans to send a draft letter urging international solidarity regarding the discharge of contaminated water to 18 countries belonging to the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Forum Secretariat," adding, "When rumor-mongering targeting the public did not work, now they have resorted to stirring up rumors even outside the country," criticizing the move.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the Democratic Party had announced that it would send a cooperation letter to 18 countries including Australia, Fiji, and the Marshall Islands, which belong to the Pacific Islands Forum, as well as to the Pacific Forum Secretariat. The letter contained recent controversies related to the marine discharge of contaminated water, the necessity of requesting provisional measures from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the need for international solidarity.

In response, Floor Leader Yoon said, "On May 29, the joint declaration of the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit reflected our government's position, including the importance of scientific verification," and criticized, "It is not only a disgrace to the country but also not helpful at all in solving the problem for the opposition party to spread unilateral claims to foreign governments without any consultation with the government."

He particularly likened the Democratic Party's offensive regarding the contaminated water discharge to the 'THAAD rumor.' He said they are inciting fear with unscientific propaganda as in the past. Yoon raised his voice, saying, "Yesterday, the environmental impact assessment for the THAAD base in Seongju was completed," and "The maximum electromagnetic wave measurement of THAAD was only 1/530 of the human protection standard, which is even less than that of a mobile phone base station."

He continued, "Seven years ago, Democratic Party lawmakers sang rumor songs in front of Seongju residents, saying their bodies would be fried under electromagnetic waves," adding, "The situation is the same even now."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers are holding pickets against the ocean dumping of Fukushima contaminated water at the entrance of the National Assembly plenary hall on the 21st. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is accelerating preparations for the discharge of contaminated water. If there are no special issues in the final report to be released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this month, Japan plans to start the discharge around July.

TEPCO recently completed the work of filling seawater into the approximately 1 km underwater tunnel dug from the nuclear power plant to the sea and has begun equipment commissioning for the discharge of Fukushima contaminated water.

However, opposition continues not only from Korea but also from Japanese fishermen. The Japan Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations has adopted a resolution opposing the marine discharge of contaminated water for four consecutive years. According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 22nd, Federation Chairman Masanobu Sakamoto said, "Our position opposing the discharge has not changed, and we intend to request through a resolution that the government take responsibility over several decades."

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