"President Yoon, Say 'No' to Fukushima Contaminated Water"… Yoon Jaegab Begins Hunger Strike

On the 20th, Yoon Jae-gap, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that he will begin a hunger strike urging the government to respond to the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. He demanded that President Yoon Seok-yeol and the government say "No" to the discharge of contaminated water and expressed his intention to ask lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties for their opinions on the issue.

At a press conference on the same day, Representative Yoon declared, "Starting today, I will begin a hunger strike to urge the government to make a proper judgment and take appropriate action regarding the discharge of Fukushima contaminated water." He is also a lawmaker from the Jeonnam Haenam, Wando, and Jindo regions, where the fishing industry is expected to be severely affected by the discharge. It appears he decided to fast out of concern for the impact on the domestic seafood market.

In his press statement, he appealed to President Yoon, saying, "I urge President Yoon to firmly say 'No' to Japan's attempt at radioactive terrorism and protect our people from radioactive terrorism. Why is it that, unlike China and Fiji, we cannot boldly say that ocean discharge is unacceptable?" He mentioned Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, stating, "Just two years ago, the People Power Party united in condemning the ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water. Why have they changed their stance? There can be no disagreement between ruling and opposition parties when it comes to the lives and safety of the people."

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea's Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater Countermeasures Team, Yoon Young-deok, Wi Seong-gon, Yang Yi-won-young, and Yoon Jae-gap (from right), visited Fukushima, Japan, on April 7 and announced their position at the nuclear contamination site. / Provided by Yang Yi-won-young's office [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding Japan's discharge of contaminated water, Representative Yoon said, "It is not only a threat to the lives and safety of our people but also radioactive terrorism that could completely destroy the fishing industry." He argued, "If the government condones the discharge of nuclear contaminated water, it will become an accomplice that endangers the lives of the people and ruins the livelihoods of our fishermen."

He also expressed his intention to hear the opinions of lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties on the discharge during his hunger strike. He said, "At the hunger strike site, I will ask each member of the National Assembly for their opinion on the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge." He added, "I will disclose the results to the public and let the people judge in next year's general election." Regarding the method of confirming lawmakers' opinions, Representative Yoon explained, "I will allow them to attach 'for' or 'against' tickets to a photo. If they do not attach a ticket, it will be assumed they oppose it."