Haenam-gun Demands Withdrawal of Fukushima Contaminated Water Ocean Discharge Plan

Myeong Hyun-gwan, Haenam County Governor, Issues a Condemnation Statement with Local Fisheries Organizations

Haenam-gun issued a statement on the 19th condemning the Japanese government's decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean and demanding its immediate withdrawal. (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam County in Jeollanam-do announced on the 19th a statement condemning the Japanese government's decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean and demanding its immediate withdrawal.

Myeong Hyun-gwan, the mayor of Haenam County, along with representatives of local fisheries organizations including the Haenam County Fisheries Cooperative, Fisheries Entrepreneurs Association, Abalone Aquaculture Association, Dried Seaweed Producers Union, and the Fishermen's Association Council, held a press conference in front of Haenam County Office to condemn the contaminated water discharge decision and urged the Japanese government to apologize and retract the decision.

Mayor Myeong stated, “Haenam County, surrounded on three sides by the pristine Ttangkkeut Sea, clearly recognizes that if contaminated water is discharged, it will cause enormous damage to the safety and livelihoods of our fishermen who depend on the sea as their living space, and we strongly express our firm resolve to never tolerate this.”

He also called for transparent disclosure of information regarding the entire process of treating contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and verification that can be recognized by the international community. He declared that, together with the government and Jeollanam-do, they will take all necessary measures and respond strongly until the decision to discharge contaminated water into the ocean is withdrawn.

Mayor Myeong Hyun-gwan said, “This discharge decision was a unilateral action taken without consultation or understanding with our country, the closest neighboring nation, and it not only poses serious risks to the safety of surrounding countries and the marine environment but also raises deep concerns that it will bring an irreversible disaster to future generations worldwide. We will take the lead from Haenam, Korea’s cleanest area, to unite the will of all citizens to withdraw the Fukushima contaminated water ocean discharge.”