[2020 National Audit] "Korea Exposed Unprotected to 1.37 Million Tons of Radioactive Contaminated Water from Fukushima"

98% Capacity Reached in 9 Years of Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater Storage Tanks... Han Junho Proposes Korea-Japan MOU for Rapid, Transparent Information Disclosure
"Expand Radiation Analysis Points from Domestic Waters to Korea-Japan Intermediate Waters"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Criticism has been raised that despite the imminent decision by the Japanese government to discharge 1.37 million tons of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, our government's response measures are completely lacking.

According to data submitted by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission to Han Junho, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, as of the 11th, about 1.23 million tons, approximately 98% of the 1.25 million-ton capacity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant's contaminated water storage tanks, have been filled.

Even with capacity expansion, saturation (1.37 million tons) is expected by 2022.

The problem is that if Japan actually discharges the contaminated water, our government does not even have a proper method to specifically verify the increased radiation concentration or the increased discharge amount.

This is because Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) sets the detailed discharge plan, and Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority monitors it.

In the 32 radiation analysis points limited to domestic waters, only passive confirmation of the contaminated water concentration in nearby waters through seawater sampling is possible.

Representative Han emphasized, "Although the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission expanded tritium analysis points and increased the frequency of seawater inflow point investigations this year, it is necessary to further increase the analysis points."

Source: Office of Han Junho, Democratic Party of Korea.

Representative Han pointed out that among the 32 tritium analysis points, only three are in the Korea-Japan intermediate water zone and proposed expanding to the intermediate water zone.

He said, "There has not been a single Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for information disclosure on contaminated water between Korea and Japan since the launch of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission," adding, "Regulatory agencies of both countries should sign an MOU to enable immediate information sharing in the event of Fukushima contaminated water discharge."

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has declared that he will resolve the contaminated water issue during his term after taking office. The Japanese government has entered stakeholder consultations for the discharge of contaminated water, holding six public online opinion collections and local resident hearings from April to July.

Representative Han said, "The first local inspection schedule after Prime Minister Suga's inauguration was also a visit to Fukushima," adding, "Once consultations with local residents and other stakeholders are completed, the issue will move to the Cabinet decision stage, making the discharge of contaminated water a reality."