Devendra Kumar
Hundreds of people marched through Seoul’s sweltering summer heat, denouncing Japan’s plans to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. The protests came a day after South Korea’s government formally endorsed the safety of the Japanese plans, stating that the contamination levels would be within acceptable standards. This stance aligned with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) approval of the Japanese discharge plans, which deemed the treated wastewater would meet international safety standards and pose negligible environmental and health impacts.
As protesters walked through the commercial district, they held signs reading “We denounce the sea disposal of Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater!” and “We oppose with our lives the sea discharge.” Han Sang-jin, spokesperson for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, argued that allowing Japan to discharge the water was akin to “an international crime.” He emphasized that there were alternative options, such as storing the water on land or exploring other methods.
The protests provided a tense backdrop to a meeting between IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin. Grossi acknowledged the unease in South Korea and expressed willingness to communicate more actively with critics, including South Korean opposition politicians, to alleviate concerns. However, when he arrived in Seoul, he was met by dozens of angry protesters at the airport, who denounced the IAEA’s support of the discharge plans and chanted slogans such as “Dismantle IAEA!” and “Fukushima wastewater will definitely lead all humanity to disaster!”
Grossi is also expected to meet lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party, which has harshly criticized the Japanese discharge plans and accused the conservative government of President Yoon Suk Yeol of prioritizing relations with Tokyo over the nation’s health. The safety of Fukushima’s wastewater has been a contentious issue for years between the US allies, with South Korea and Japan working to repair relations historically strained over wartime historical grievances.
South Korea’s assessment of the safety of the discharge plan was partially based on observations by a team of government scientists who toured the Fukushima plant in May. Despite the formal endorsement, the protests highlighted the deep-seated concerns and mistrust among South Koreans regarding the Japanese plans. As the issue remains a sensitive topic, the protesters’ voices will likely continue to be heard, emphasizing their opposition to the discharge of the toxic wastewater into the ocean.