"Fisherman in the News Saying 'I Won't Feed My Children Seafood' Was a Democratic Party Candidate"

Last Year, Ran for Local Election as a Member of the Democratic Party
People Power Party: "Violation of the Broadcasting Act... Investigation Needed on Whether It Was a Conspiracy"

On the day Japan began discharging contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, a 'fisherman from Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do' who appeared on a local broadcast and stated, "I will not let my children eat seafood," was revealed to have previously run for local office as a candidate nominated by the Democratic Party of Korea, sparking controversy.

On the 24th, Mokpo MBC aired a news segment titled "Jeollanam-do, the No. 1 seafood region... How severe is the actual damage?" covering the start of the ocean discharge of contaminated water (referred to by the Japanese government as 'treated water') from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The broadcast included an interview with a fisherman from Sinan-gun.

The broadcast reported that "due to the ocean discharge of contaminated water, seafood consumption sentiment has weakened, raising concerns about significant damage to the local economy, including small business owners and the tourism industry."

During this, fisherman Kang Daeseong appeared and said, "The seafood consumption sentiment is already at rock bottom, and I especially will not let my children eat it." Along with his statement, a subtitle saying "I cannot let my family eat seafood" was also displayed.

Fairness of the Report Under Scrutiny

On the 24th, Mokpo MBC aired news titled "Jeonnam, the No. 1 Fisheries Area... How Much Actual Damage Has Occurred?" reporting on the start of the ocean discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan (referred to as 'treated water' by the Japanese government), including an interview with a fisherman from Sinan-gun.
[Photo by Mokpo MBC YouTube]

After the report, it was revealed that Kang, who appeared as a fisherman, has a background related to a political party, raising questions about the fairness of the broadcast.

According to the People Power Party, he ran as the Democratic Party's candidate in the '1-Ga' district of Sinan-gun Council during the nationwide local elections held in June last year.

However, Kang lost the election, coming behind an independent candidate in a race where two out of three candidates were elected. Kang also served as the standing chairman of the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock Committee of the Democratic Party's presidential campaign headquarters during last year's presidential election supporting candidate Lee Jae-myung.

Mr. Kang also served as the Standing Chairman of the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock Committee of the Organizational Headquarters of the Democratic Party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's election campaign committee during last year's presidential election.
[Photo by Daesung Kang on Facebook]

The People Power Party's Special Committee for Preventing Fake News and Rumors issued a statement on the 28th, saying, "We cannot help but ask whether Mokpo MBC and the Democratic Party of Korea colluded to create fake news related to Fukushima contaminated water."

They added, "If Kang conducted the interview under party instructions and Mokpo MBC broadcast it as is, this constitutes a serious violation of broadcasting law," and "MBC must immediately apologize for the manipulated interview broadcast and investigate whether there was any collusion with the Democratic Party, including the reporter and desk who reported the news."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea has clearly stated its opposition to the discharge of nuclear contaminated water. Some Democratic Party lawmakers attended an 'Anti-Nuclear Contaminated Water Discharge Rally' held in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, on the 27th.

At the Supreme Council meeting on the 28th, party leader Lee Jae-myung said, "No citizen will tolerate Japan's environmental crime of poisoning the Pacific Ocean, the world's well," and added, "The president must directly declare opposition to the nuclear contaminated water dumping. Japan should be taken to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea."

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