Hong Jun-pyo "We Must Not Support Fukushima Contaminated Water Ocean Dumping"

Separate from the Korea-US-Japan Economic Security Alliance
Japan's Marine Land Reclamation Acts Are Self-Destructive Behavior

Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, stated on his Facebook on the 11th, "Our country neither supports nor should support Japan's discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean."

On April 14th, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo held a press conference explaining his dismissal from the position of Standing Advisor of the People Power Party and addressing recent controversies surrounding his remarks.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He wrote, "Japan should understand that if Fukushima's contaminated water is discharged, no country will import Japanese seafood," adding, "Now that the ocean dumping of sludge (汚泥) is already banned, attempting to dump nuclear power plant contaminated water, which has a much higher potential for harm, into the ocean is a grave mistake."

Mayor Hong further explained the reason for opposing ocean dumping, saying, "It is a matter of global health rights, separate from the Korea-US-Japan economic security alliance," and added, "If ocean dumping is carried out despite this, it will be an act of self-harm by Japan."

Japan's discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is expected to begin in earnest by the end of this month. The Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company plan to dilute the contaminated water to levels below the standard through treatment processes, but opposition from opposition parties, some civic groups, and fishermen is intense.

However, our government and the ruling People Power Party hold the position that if the scientific verification results from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and the government inspection team are deemed trustworthy, the discharge cannot be prevented.