Democrats: "Regarding contaminated water discharge, is Yoon prepared with 'marine radioactivity monitoring devices and response manuals'?"

Opposition Urges Yoon Government for Practical Response Measures
Ruling Party Criticizes 'Drinking Trillions of Water' Controversy

The Democratic Party of Korea on the 3rd urged the government to submit realistic countermeasures of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, such as seawater radiation monitoring devices and crisis response manuals, to the National Assembly regarding Japan's discharge of radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean.

Park Kwang-on, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting on the 3rd, "There are reports that the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Secretary-General will deliver the final report to Japan as early as tomorrow," and added, "I want to ask whether the Korean government, which is effectively consenting to the discharge, is actually preparing countermeasures."

First, Park checked whether the seawater radiation monitoring devices in Korea's waters are functioning properly. He said, "Since 2018, seawater radiation monitoring devices have been installed and operated in 21 regions nationwide," but "there are reports that they have broken down 41 times in the past five years." He then requested the government to re-examine the seawater radiation monitoring system and report to the National Assembly on measures to restore its functionality.

He also inquired whether a crisis response manual for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water has been prepared. Park explained, "The Democratic Party urged the preparation of a crisis response manual when high concentrations of radiation were detected in our waters during last year's national audit," and "The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said it would complete the manual by May this year, but it has not yet been completed." He urged the government to promptly report the crisis response manual to the National Assembly and disclose it to the public and the media.

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He also called for transparency regarding the resumption of imports of seafood from Fukushima. Park said, "The Fukushima Fisheries Cooperative said that even if radioactive substances are discharged, they will continue fishing for more than 30 years to demand compensation from the Japanese government," adding, "Seafood will be caught in Fukushima, and if we import it, it means it will enter our country."

On the same day, the Supreme Council members unanimously criticized the government's lukewarm response to the discharge of radioactive contaminated water. Jeong Cheong-rae, a Supreme Council member, said, "Japan is expected to heavily pressure Korea by leveraging the IAEA not only for the discharge of Fukushima nuclear wastewater but also for lifting the ban on seafood imports," and added, "I am worried about how the Yoon administration will defend the WTO ruling emphasizing safety and what logic it will use to respond to Japan's pressure."

Park Chan-dae, another Supreme Council member, criticized ruling party lawmakers, saying, "I've heard the saying 'drinking cold water upsets your stomach,' but I've never heard of 'drinking seawater upsets your stomach,'" and "Instead of putting on a show of drinking seawater, persuade the government to oppose Japan's ocean discharge of contaminated water as befits the ruling party." Earlier, on the 30th of last month, members of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee from the People Power Party visited Noryangjin Fish Market and stirred controversy by demonstrating drinking water from a tank with bare hands.

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