Yoon, in meeting during Japan visit, says "We will seek public understanding on contaminated water discharge"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, who is assuming the position of chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League, during a meeting with Japan-Korea friendship groups and Japanese political leaders at a hotel in Tokyo on the 17th.

On the 17th, President Yoon Suk-yeol reportedly told former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga during a meeting in Tokyo that "even if it takes time, we will seek the understanding of the Korean people" regarding the issue of releasing contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, Japanese Kyodo News reported on the 29th.

Kyodo News, citing sources familiar with Korea-Japan relations, reported that Nukaga Fukushiro, former chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union who accompanied President Yoon and former Prime Minister Suga at the meeting, requested the Korean side to understand the release of contaminated water and to lift the ban on imports of Japanese seafood.

According to the report, President Yoon pointed out, "It seems that the previous Moon Jae-in administration avoided understanding," conveying that due to former President Moon's political stance toward Japan, Japan's explanations were not sufficiently communicated in Korea.

President Yoon further stated, "The Korean government needs to understand the situation through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) process," and urged, "The Japanese government should make more efforts to foster understanding."

Kyodo News analyzed that President Yoon's response appeared to reflect an attitude aimed at normalizing Korea-Japan relations.

The Japanese government plans to begin releasing contaminated water stored in tanks on the site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean this spring or summer. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) purifies the contaminated water using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) before storage, but tritium, a radioactive substance, remains even after purification.

Japan has stated its intention to dilute the tritium concentration in the contaminated water to less than 1,500 becquerels (Bq) per liter, which is 1/40th of its national regulatory standard, before releasing it into the sea; however, the international community has expressed concerns.

China and Russia also expressed "serious concerns" about Japan's contaminated water discharge in a joint statement issued after their summit this month.

Meanwhile, on the same day, President Yoon reportedly invited former Prime Minister Suga, chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union, saying, "Please come to Korea. I am waiting at my office."