IAEA to Release Japan's Contaminated Water Report Today... Opposition Launches All-Out Effort to Block Ocean Dumping

Opposition Party Announces 'Strengthened Report Verification and Struggle'

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to release its final report on June 4 evaluating the safety of Japan's plan to discharge radioactive contaminated water into the ocean. Meanwhile, the opposition party has declared that it will thoroughly verify the report. In particular, with claims emerging that the IAEA will approve the Japanese government's ocean discharge of contaminated water, the opposition plans to focus on the clarity of the standards. Alongside this, they have announced organized responses such as protest visits to Japan, fasting, and resolution rallies, strengthening their line of struggle.

Jeong Chunsuk, the senior deputy floor leader, said at the morning floor strategy meeting, "Today, the IAEA will release a revised report verifying the safety of Japan's Fukushima contaminated water ocean discharge plan," adding, "It is highly likely that the final report will effectively endorse the Japanese government's ocean discharge of contaminated water." He continued, "If Japan demands the lifting of import restrictions on Fukushima seafood after the report's release, the government must prepare concretely on how to reject Japan's demands and how to win a WTO (World Trade Organization) re-litigation." The floor leadership displayed the 'Democratic Party's 7 Major Demands for Resolving Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Contaminated Water' as the backdrop of the meeting.

Rep. Lee Yong-woo explained about the forthcoming report, "The release of today's report marks the beginning of scientific verification," stating, "Data will be disclosed, models will be presented, and standards will be set so that any third party can participate and verify the identity of the model, which is essential for it to be considered scientific." He also demanded, "What the government must do is provide that data and clearly disclose the standards."

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Democratic Party recently decided to establish a 'comprehensive control tower' to respond to Japan's ocean discharge of contaminated water. Currently, the Democratic Party has formed the 'Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Contaminated Water Ocean Discharge Prevention Committee' and the 'Fukushima Contaminated Water Floor Countermeasures Group.' Additionally, the 'Parliamentary Group to Prevent Ocean Discharge during Japan Visit,' led by Rep. Ahn Min-seok, plans to conduct a protest visit to Japan from June 10 to 12. Rep. Woo Won-shik is currently on an indefinite fast. They intend to comprehensively manage these activities and respond in an organized manner.

On the day the IAEA report is released, the Democratic Party plans to conduct report analysis and hold emergency supreme council meetings and emergency party caucuses. The day before, chief spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung told reporters, "After the emergency party caucus, there will likely be events such as condemnation rallies. The Chamjoeun Local Government Council will also organize resolution rallies by local assemblies." The floor leadership is also planning to raise current issues at the standing committee level. On June 5, the full meeting of the Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee will question the handling of radioactive waste.

Rep. Wi Seong-gon, head of the Ocean Discharge Prevention Committee, said in a phone interview, "We plan to release our position today or tomorrow once the report is out," adding, "Specifically, we intend to highlight whether the IAEA is taking responsibility for verification and whether IAEA-related contracts are being conducted with Japanese funding."

Rep. Lee Dong-ju, chair of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Small Business, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall with merchants from the National Small Business Committee on the morning of the same day. He said, "We oppose the ocean discharge of radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant," adding, "Discharging pollutants into the sea under conditions of uncertainty and risk is not discharge but illegal dumping." They demanded that Japan withdraw its decision to discharge into the ocean and urged the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to oppose the discharge decision and implement provisional measures requests.

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