[Comprehensive] 7 Days Until Japan's Nuclear Wastewater Discharge Decision... Won Hee-ryong "Not a Single Drop Will Be Tolerated"

"Will Proceed with International Trial Lawsuit"
Mayor of Japanese Municipality Near Fukushima: "National Discussion Must Take Place"
50% Oppose Discharge in Japanese Poll

Jeon Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th, urging the suspension of the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, Japan. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] As the Japanese government is about to make a decision on discharging radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in a week, Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, stated, "Jeju Province cannot tolerate even a single drop of Fukushima contaminated water."

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 20th, Governor Won said, "If the contaminated water is discharged, we will recruit a group of resident plaintiffs representing the residents of Jeju Province, Korea, and coastal residents of both Korea and Japan to file civil and criminal lawsuits against the Japanese government in courts of both countries, and also proceed with international tribunal litigation."

He explained, "The contaminated water does not flow only into the Japanese sea, but all countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, including Jeju, are stakeholders," adding, "Although the Japanese government claims that the concentration of contaminated water has been reduced, experts still raise concerns about the risks."

Regarding this, Governor Won cited research from the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel at Kiel University in Germany. According to the study, contaminated water discharged from Fukushima is expected to reach Jeju Island in 200 days and then arrive at the East Sea coastal waters 80 days later.

Governor Won emphasized, "As the Governor of Jeju Province, I have the duty to protect the territorial waters and the safety of the people," and added, "Protecting the sea in front of Jeju means protecting the lives, safety, and ecosystems of the people of all countries connected to this sea."

He also urged, "Japanese citizens and local residents also oppose the discharge," and stated, "The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea guarantees our rights. The Japanese government must immediately halt related preparations, transparently provide all information and data related to Fukushima contaminated water, and proceed with consultations on contaminated water treatment measures."

On the morning of the 20th, university student climate action supporters held an "Emergency Press Conference to Demand the Withdrawal of Fukushima Radioactive Contaminated Water Discharge" in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the Japanese government will hold a 'Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Countermeasures Ministerial Meeting' on the 27th (local time) to decide on the policy to purify and discharge radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Once this policy is formalized, after design and safety reviews of the discharge facilities, the contaminated water discharge is expected to begin around October 2021.

Previously, in 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunamis struck the northeastern Japan region, causing a core meltdown accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Currently, groundwater and rainwater continue to flow into the damaged reactor buildings, generating 160 to 170 tons of contaminated water daily. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is currently storing the contaminated water in tanks, but the storage tanks are expected to reach capacity by October 2022.

Meanwhile, concerns have also been expressed in Miyagi Prefecture, adjacent to Fukushima, regarding the nuclear power plant contaminated water discharge issue.

According to local media reports on the 19th, Yoshihiro Murai, Governor of Miyagi Prefecture, said, "We are surprised by reports of Fukushima contaminated water being discharged into the ocean without information provided by the government," adding, "It cannot be said that there has been a national discussion on this issue."

He continued, "The ocean discharge of contaminated water will have a significant impact not only on Fukushima and neighboring areas but on all of Japan," emphasizing, "Discussion at the level of local governments nationwide is necessary."

Public opinion in Japan also appears divided over the contaminated water discharge.

According to a poll conducted by the Japanese media outlet Yomiuri Shimbun from the 16th to the 18th, surveying 1,051 voters nationwide, 50% opposed the ocean discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, while only 41% supported it.