Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Council Members Condemn Japan's Radioactive Contaminated Water Discharge

The Gwangsan District Council of Gwangju Metropolitan City (Chairman Kim Tae-wan) issued a statement condemning Japan's decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean.

Through the statement, the Gwangsan district council members said, "The Japanese government officially decided on April 13, 2021, to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean," adding, "Despite strong opposition from the international community as well as Japanese citizens, they insist on carrying out the discharge this coming spring or summer."

They further stated, "We express regret over the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated water and demand the immediate withdrawal of the discharge plan."

They also declared, "It is difficult to accept the claim of safety based solely on unilateral investigations and analyses without transparently disclosing data on the contaminated water," and emphasized, "Discharging contaminated water into the ocean, a global public resource, poses a threat to the health and lives of people in neighboring countries and constitutes an act of terrorism that shakes the safety of all humanity."

Moreover, they pointed out, "Not only has Japan failed to fulfill its obligations under international maritime law, but it also violates the London Convention and Protocol aimed at preventing marine pollution," urging, "The Japanese government, as a member of the international community, must transparently disclose all information regarding the treatment of contaminated water and undergo verification."

They added, "If Japan forcibly proceeds with the discharge of contaminated water, firm and effective measures such as a complete ban on the import of Japanese seafood must be prepared to ensure the safety of our people," calling for proactive responses from our government.

Council member Jo Young-im, who delivered the statement on behalf of the council, said, "The discharge of nuclear power plant contaminated water will not only destroy the marine ecosystem but also threaten the safety of seafood as food, and above all, we, being the closest neighbors to Japan, will suffer fatal damage," adding, "We plan to continuously raise our voices urging the government to prepare and implement active measures."