IAEA Report Government Review... Opposition: "Prejudged Conclusion" vs Ruling Party: "Opposition Should Be Ashamed"

"There Was a Difference of Opinion Among Experts"

The Democratic Party of Korea on the 7th fiercely criticized the government's judgment that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s final report on the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant "meets international standards," calling it a "predetermined conclusion that did not deviate an inch from expectations."

Spokesperson Kang Sun-woo stated in a commentary on the same day, "According to a Reuters report, IAEA Secretary General Rafael Grossi acknowledged that there were disagreements among IAEA experts when drafting the final report. Are the disagreements among IAEA experts, whom the government and ruling party want to believe like a faith, also political strife, agitation, and refusal to accept the presidential election results?"

Spokesperson Kang emphasized that the experts' output is not 'science' but 'claims.' He said, "For the content of the report to be recognized as 'science,' it must undergo verification. When objections are raised, explanations are provided, and those objections and explanations gain trust, only then does it become 'science.' Many reports and research results written by numerous experts worldwide using the 'scientific method' are 'claims' until they gain trust through challenges and verification, not science."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, "Even a single thesis goes through this process, so isn't it natural to verify the IAEA report, which concerns the health and safety of the people?" He criticized, "Given the current situation, the government closed its eyes and ears and jumped to the conclusion that Japan's contaminated water treatment plan meets international standards."

Spokesperson Kang said, "The IAEA repeatedly avoided responsibility, saying it neither supports nor recommends Japan's discharge plan, but the Yoon Seok-yeol government sided with the IAEA and defended Japan. Even theft requires coordination, so isn't this too embarrassing?" He continued, "The proposal the government announced today was merely a technical supplement assuming ocean discharge. Now, the Korean government is blatantly acting as a supporting agency for the Japanese government's nuclear contaminated water discharge, which is truly disheartening."

He stated, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration ultimately turned its back on the people and sided with the Japanese government," and "The Yoon Seok-yeol government, which abandoned the health and safety of the people and sided with Japan, will be judged by the people and history."

On the other hand, the People Power Party evaluated the government's review report as "the investigation and verification of contaminated water have reached the final stage."

Senior Spokesperson Kang Min-guk explained in a commentary on the same day, "The review report is the result of comprehensive verification, including the analysis by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, the analysis of raw data secured by the government inspection team at the Fukushima nuclear power plant site, and the evaluation of the trial operation inspection of Japan's discharge facilities."

He added, "Nevertheless, the Democratic Party seems poised to lightly ignore this, just as it did with the IAEA's final report," and criticized, "Watching the Democratic Party's unscientific outdoor rally during Secretary General Grossi's visit to Korea, I am ashamed to think how Grossi might gauge the level of Korea's main opposition party."

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