'Public Invitation' → 'Secret Explanation'... Behavior of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Under Fire

Secret Explanation Posted on Website on the 1st
Foreign Scholar Denies Statement 'It Is Safe to Drink Fukushima Contaminated Water'
At the Time, Public Invitation and Active Provision of Press Materials

The irresponsible behavior of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) regarding the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan has once again come under scrutiny. As a national research institute, KAERI invited an "overseas scholar" to a public forum, which led to the statement that "it is safe to drink the contaminated water," causing confusion among the public. This time, they distributed an explanation document 'secretly.' Although they officially invited reporters via email two weeks before the event and distributed photos and transcripts on the day, when the issue arose, they changed their stance and quietly posted the explanation only on their website without informing the reporters.

On the morning of the 1st, KAERI posted a brief statement titled "Confirmation Regarding the May 15th Professor Allison Press Conference" in the press release section of its official website. The document was a clarification regarding Professor Wade Allison of Oxford University, UK, who attended the joint press conference hosted by KAERI and the Korean Nuclear Society on the 15th of last month and stated that "it is safe to drink the contaminated water."

KAERI explained, "The press conference was organized to explain the general aspects of nuclear energy, including the necessity of nuclear energy in the carbon-neutral era, prompted by the Korean Nuclear Society inviting an overseas scholar as a special lecturer at the spring academic conference." They added, "The remarks made by Professor Allison regarding the Fukushima contaminated water represent his personal opinion and do not reflect the position of the institute." Furthermore, they stated, "According to Japan's Fukushima contaminated water management plan, the tritium radioactivity concentration of the diluted discharged contaminated water will be below 1,500 Bq/L, which is lower than the WHO drinking water standard of 10,000 Bq/L. However, the tritium concentration of the undiluted contaminated water averages 620,000 Bq/L, confirming that it is not suitable as drinking water for regular consumption."

This 'secret explanation' contrasts sharply with KAERI's attitude before the press conference caused controversy. Earlier, on May 2, two weeks before the event, KAERI officially invited all reporters via email. On the day of the event, they also sent photos and transcripts via email, showing an 'unusual' level of courtesy. It seemed as if they wanted Professor Allison's remarks to be widely reported.

However, afterward, criticism arose that Professor Allison's remarks were inaccurate and unscientific, and that such statements were inappropriate for an official event hosted by a national research institute, especially when 80% of the public opposes the discharge of Fukushima contaminated water. KAERI then tried to evade responsibility by saying the remarks were "personal opinions" and that "we did not pay the invitation costs."

Previously, on the 24th of last month, KAERI President Joo Han-kyu appeared before the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee and expressed a similar stance. When opposition lawmakers questioned, "Why are no measures being taken?" he indicated that an explanatory document would be issued.