Park Kwang-on Proposes 7 Major Solutions for Japan's Contaminated Water... "Government Should Demand Japan Postpone Discharge for 6 Months"

Joint Review of Five Methods for Japan's Contaminated Water
Includes Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Implementation

Park Kwang-on, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed that the Japanese government extend the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant by at least six months and then submit the matter to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for judgment.

At the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th, Floor Leader Park urged, "We strongly call on the government and the People Power Party to request the seven proposals put forward by the Democratic Party to the Japanese government and to ensure their implementation," adding, "First, demand that the Japanese government suspend marine dumping for at least six months until early next year."

He continued, "During this period, the South Korean and Japanese governments should establish a permanent consultative body to comprehensively conduct environmental impact assessments, set up a Korea-Japan expert group within the consultative body, and jointly re-examine the five options previously considered by Japan."

Park Kwang-on, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Policy Coordination Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

According to data secured by Democratic Party lawmaker Oh Ki-hyung through the Office for Government Policy Coordination, Japan reviewed five options for handling the contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear materials: marine discharge, vapor release, geological injection, hydrogen release, and underground burial. The estimated costs were 31 billion KRW for marine discharge, 320 billion KRW for vapor release, 910 billion KRW for hydrogen release, 2.2 trillion KRW for underground burial, and up to 3.6 trillion KRW for geological injection. Regarding this, Floor Leader Park stated, "Our Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has never independently reviewed the specificity or risks of these five options considered by Japan," adding, "Ultimately, Japan chose the least costly option, and the South Korean government has uncritically accepted the Japanese government's position without verification, telling our people that it is safe."

As mentioned by Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in his speech to the negotiating groups, Floor Leader Park urged the government to implement proposals such as "offering financial support from South Korea and neighboring countries for the costs arising from the confirmed safe disposal method," "requesting objective verification from the international community," "actively persuading the citizens of both Korea and Japan," and "filing for provisional measures with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea once the suspension period ends and both countries accepting the tribunal's decision."

Floor Leader Park also emphasized the urgency of the situation. He said, "Japan has completed the construction of the undersea tunnel for marine dumping of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and has the final inspection scheduled for tomorrow, the 28th," adding, "Once the IAEA's final report, which is effectively predetermined, is released, Japan will open the valve, and the contaminated water will flow into the seas of South Korea and neighboring countries. There is no time left." Floor Leader Park promised, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration must immediately urge the Japanese government to meet the seven demands. The Democratic Party will spare no effort and fully support the government in any role necessary."

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