Jeong Seok-woong, Jeonnam Superintendent of Education, Urges Withdrawal of Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater Discharge

Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam Province, strongly condemned Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean and called for its withdrawal. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam, strongly condemned Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean and urged its withdrawal.

On the 15th, during an executive meeting, Superintendent Jang criticized Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water into the ocean, stating, "Japan's decision is a foolish act that endangers neighboring countries for its own sake without foresight."

He continued, "The Japanese government should know that this act is shameful even to its own children," and strongly urged, "The decision to discharge contaminated water into the ocean must be immediately withdrawn."

Furthermore, he added, "If Japan's decision becomes a reality, radioactive contaminated water is expected to flow into the sea from 2023 to 2051, for as long as 30 years, increasing the severity of the situation," and "This will endanger all living creatures, and the direct impact on food will threaten the lives of our children."

He also promised, "The Provincial Office of Education will not use Japanese seafood in school meals and will strengthen radioactive testing of seafood to protect the health of our children."

Along with this, he announced a plan to strengthen environmental education so that students properly recognize this situation.

Superintendent Jang emphasized, "There is a saying that the future depends on what we do now," and "I hope Japan realizes that our children are also part of the future they envision."

Meanwhile, the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education has been striving to ensure safe school meals for children by enacting the "Ordinance on the Supply of Safe School Meal Ingredients from Radioactive and Other Harmful Substances" in 2017.