Lee Jae-myung "The Entire Fisheries Industry Will Collapse"... Democratic Party Lights 'Candlelight' for Full-Scale Offensive Against Japan's Radioactive Water Discharge

The Democratic Party of Korea will enter a '100-hour emergency action' starting on the 23rd, the day before the Japanese government's planned discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, including holding a candlelight rally. It is expected to launch a full-scale offensive centered on the plan presented by the party's Comprehensive Countermeasures Committee against the marine dumping of Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water.

On the morning of the same day, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, party leader Lee Jae-myung stated, "If Japan discharges the contaminated water, our fisheries industry will be completely ruined," and added, "Starting with the candlelight rally this evening, including weekend street protests, we will hold the Yoon Seok-yeol government accountable by using every possible means for abandoning the people."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Leader Lee emphasized, "If there is even a tiny bit of concern for the people left, they should boldly express their opposition," and "The Democratic Party will engage in an all-out struggle together with the people."

Floor leader Park Kwang-on also said, "The Democratic Party will enter an emergency system to prepare for all possible scenarios of harm to the people starting from tomorrow when Japan begins marine dumping of nuclear contaminated water." He continued, "We will do our best by mobilizing all the party's capabilities to find ways to withdraw and stop the marine dumping."

The Democratic Party is expected to launch an offensive according to the schedule prepared by the Fukushima Contaminated Water Comprehensive Countermeasures Committee. The committee has defined the period before and after the start of contaminated water dumping as an emergency and prepared a first-phase 100-hour intensive response plan until the 26th. Following an emergency party members' meeting held the previous day to discuss countermeasures and a protest visit to the Japanese Embassy in Korea led by the committee, a candlelight rally urging the withdrawal of Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water marine dumping will be held at 7:30 p.m. on the steps in front of the National Assembly main building. It is expected that about 1,000 people, including Leader Lee, affiliated lawmakers, aides, party officials, and city and district councilors, will gather at this event.

On the 24th, when Japan begins marine dumping of nuclear contaminated water for the next 30 years, a large-scale street march will be held from Gwanghwamun Square to the front of the Yongsan Presidential Office starting at 10 a.m. Leader Lee will attend in person and plans to urge the Presidential Office to declare opposition to marine dumping and deliver a statement demanding a full investigation of seafood in case of contaminated water marine dumping.

On the 25th, lawmaker Kim Seong-hwan, head of the committee's Strategic Planning Headquarters, will meet with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and hold an emergency press conference regarding the international treaty 'London Convention.' On the weekend of the 26th, an outdoor rally is scheduled. The plan is to hold the first mass rally at Gwanghwamun together with civil society. On the 27th, a delegation of lawmakers will be dispatched to attend a Fukushima rally mainly organized by the Japanese opposition parties. During the lawmaker workshop scheduled for the 28th and 29th, they are expected to brainstorm future countermeasures. On the 1st, when the regular September National Assembly session opens, a condemnation rally is also being prepared within the National Assembly.

In addition, the Democratic Party is considering sending affiliated lawmakers to international organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to express opposition.

In his closing remarks at the meeting, Leader Lee added, "I will make a prediction." Referring to media reports that the government and ruling party requested Japan to discharge the contaminated water early, he explained, "There is a very high possibility that the report is true. (If not) they should announce 'it is not true,' but there is no statement." Regarding the interpretation that the early discharge request was aimed at the general election, he said, "There is also an opinion that before the election, they will say, 'It has been eight months since the discharge, and after inspecting our coastal waters, it is ultimately safe.' There is a possibility they will say, 'There are no contaminants,' but I hope my prediction is wrong."

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