Emphasizing "Safety" in Fukushima Nuclear Plant Discharge Coverage
Morning Notice: "No Fukushima Seafood Will Enter Domestic Market"
Expressing Displeasure at Japanese Media Reports
The Presidential Office stated on the 30th regarding the issue of the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, "Safety is the most important aspect concerning the contaminated water, or more accurately, the leaked water. Objective and scientific verification is absolutely necessary."
A key official from the Presidential Office made this remark when a reporter met with them at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon and requested confirmation of President Yoon’s remarks related to the Fukushima contaminated water ocean discharge issue, which had been reported the previous day by Japan’s Kyodo News.
They added, "For that, it would be good if an objective investigation including Korean experts is conducted. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for our people to understand."
Kyodo News reported the previous day that on the second day of President Yoon’s visit to Japan, the 17th, he met with former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo and said regarding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant contaminated water ocean discharge issue, "Even if it takes time, I will seek the understanding of the Korean people." This report has sparked controversy. It also stated that Nukaga Fukushiro, former chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians’ Union who was present at the meeting, requested the Korean government’s understanding of the contaminated water discharge and the lifting of the import ban on Japanese seafood that has been in place since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident.
In response, the Presidential Office’s spokesperson’s office stated in a media notice that morning, "Regarding the import of Japanese seafood, the government’s position that the health and safety of the people is the top priority remains unchanged," and "Seafood from Fukushima will never enter the country."
This is interpreted as an explanation following Japanese media reports that Japan demanded the lifting of import restrictions on Fukushima seafood during the Korea-Japan summit held on the occasion of President Yoon Seok-yeol’s visit to Japan on the 16th and 17th, which raised concerns domestically. However, since the Presidential Office did not issue a separate stance on the nuclear power plant contaminated water ocean discharge, when reporters repeatedly requested the office’s position, they emphasized securing objective safety.
When asked by a reporter, "Is President Yoon’s remark reported by Kyodo News false news?" the official said, "Regarding the report about sea squirts from Japan, the person who wrote that article was not present at the meeting, but I was," and added, "I took notes on everything one by one." This official had previously dismissed Japanese media reports on the 22nd that Japanese lawmakers requested the import of Japanese sea squirts during President Yoon’s visit to Japan, saying, "The word ‘sea squirt’ never came up."
When asked, "Given that related reports from Japanese media continue, could this be seen as media play? Did you respond through diplomatic channels?" the official replied, "This issue came up once during the Korea-Japan summit, and we explained the government’s position in detail. Nothing has changed since then," and expressed displeasure, saying, "I don’t know why Japan is doing media play or recycling this issue, but I think there is no need for our media to blindly follow."
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