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News > World

Japan's Radioactive Wastewater Worries South Korea

  • Technical staff of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Japan.

    Technical staff of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Japan. | Photo: Twitter/ @nupolireview

Published 11 April 2022
Opinion

"The contaminated water released into the ocean will spread across the entire Pacific Ocean in 10 years and affect almost all of our sea," Rep. Seo Sam-seok said.

South Koreans voiced concerns about Japan's planned release of radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

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On Monday, Rep. Seo Sam-seok of the liberal Democratic Party held a forum to find ways in cooperation with neighboring countries to tackle Japan's plan to dump nuclear wastewater next spring.

"The contaminated water released into the ocean will spread across the entire Pacific Ocean in 10 years and affect almost all of our sea. Marine pollution will be inevitable, so the government and the political circle should proactively act for the safety of people," Seo said.

The incoming government of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, scheduled to be sworn in as president on May 10, also planned to sternly deal with the tritium-laced water release by Japan, a local daily JoongAng Ilbo reported.

The Yoon administration will strengthen radiation checks and the country origin mark of imported marine products while expanding the origin labeling in restaurants. The current Moon Jae-in government has completely banned the import of marine products caught in the Japanese waters near the Fukushima prefecture.

Civic activists and local residents in Pohang, about 370 km southeast of Seoul, held a protest rally last week against Japan's plan to continuously discharge nuclear wastewater into the ocean for 30 years beginning in 2023.

The Pohang Citizens Behavior, composed of six civic groups and residents, have campaigned since last July against the Japanese government as the port city is forecast to be one of the hardest-hit fishing areas by the release of the polluted water.

People

Yoon Suk-yeol
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