"‘Contaminated Water Discharge as an International Crime’ vs ‘Just Opposing’ Extreme Confrontation Between Ruling and Opposition Parties"

與 "Scientifically Verified... Meets International Standards"
Opposition "No One Knows if It's Safe After 30 Years"

As the Japanese government decided to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean starting on the 24th, the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is intensifying. The Democratic Party of Korea strongly opposed the government's stance of "not supporting" the contaminated water discharge decision, saying it is practically tantamount to condoning it. The People Power Party countered by saying that the discharge of contaminated water has been scientifically verified as safe and called the Democratic Party's claims "rumors."

The Democratic Party plans to hold a candlelight rally at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 23rd to urge the withdrawal of the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water ocean discharge. Woo Won-sik, a Democratic Party lawmaker and the party's head of the contaminated water dumping countermeasures committee, said in an MBC radio interview on the 23rd, "We have defined the discharge of contaminated water as an international crime and a violation of South Korea's sovereignty," adding, "Yesterday, we visited the Japanese embassy to protest and delivered a resolution condemning the action. Tonight, we will hold a candlelight protest at the National Assembly."

Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, Park Kwang-on, the floor leader, and other members of the Democratic Party of Korea are shouting slogans at the rally condemning the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, held on the stairs of the Rotunda Hall in the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Regarding the government's position on Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water, Rep. Woo said, "They did not object, so isn't that tantamount to agreeing?" and criticized, "The presidential office even led the production of promotional videos claiming there is no harm and that it is safe."

He added, "It has not been confirmed that the discharge of contaminated water is safe," and said, "The nuclear power plant will continue to discharge water until it is decommissioned and no more discharge water is produced, and even the current amount will be discharged for 30 years. How does the presidential office know the situation after 30 years? Our government is unilaterally declaring it safe despite it causing harm to us," he criticized.

The People Power Party emphasized that the contaminated water discharge plan meets international safety standards. Sung Il-jong, a People Power Party lawmaker and chairman of the party's Our Sea Protection Verification Task Force, said in an SBS radio interview, "While we do not emotionally support or endorse it, scientifically, there are parts we cannot reject," adding, "We cannot simply refuse to accept it in areas approached scientifically."

Rep. Sung said, "The principle that we cannot disagree if it meets international standards is a policy we inherited from the Moon Jae-in administration," and rather targeted the Democratic Party, saying, "Before the contaminated water is even discharged, rumors have reduced seafood consumption, causing fishermen to suffer greatly."

Regarding the Democratic Party's announcement of a candlelight protest to urge the prevention of contaminated water discharge, he criticized, "It is bad politics that kills fishermen and makes the public more anxious for the Democratic Party, which led protests against THAAD and mad cow disease, to rush out into the streets," calling it "politics that cannot reflect on the past."

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