Japanese Lawmaker Also Agrees That IAEA Report "Cannot Serve as a Whitewash"

Democratic Party Rep. Wi Seong-gon YTN Radio Interview
"Many Japanese Lawmakers Condemn Contaminated Water Discharge"

After visiting Japan to protest against the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water discharge plan and returning home, Wi Seong-gon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that Japanese opposition lawmakers agreed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report "cannot serve as a pardon for the discharge."

Wi, chairman of the party's Countermeasures Committee to Prevent the Marine Dumping of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Contaminated Water, appeared on YTN Radio's "News King Park Ji-hoon" on the 14th and said, "Specifically, we also secured cooperation with Diet members such as Abe Tomoko."

The group of lawmakers opposing the ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water is conducting a walking protest in Tokyo on the 12th to stop the ocean discharge of Fukushima contaminated water. Photo by Yonhap News, group of lawmakers opposing the ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water

He said, "Since August 2015, Japanese lawmakers, the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, a fisheries cooperative in Fukushima, and officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Tokyo Electric Power Company had pledged in a document that no discharge would occur without the consent of the stakeholders," adding, "There was much condemnation for not keeping that promise."

Wi also explained, "They expressed concerns that the marine discharge is being pushed forward without stakeholder agreement, that the total amount of radioactive materials to be discharged has not been confirmed, and although the discharge period is said to be 30 years, it is difficult to complete decommissioning within that time. They strongly stated that other options should be considered. Eleven of our Democratic Party lawmakers, along with eight opposition lawmakers from Japan's Constitutional Democratic Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi, jointly issued a statement."

Regarding Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's reasons for promoting the contaminated water discharge, Wi said, "It seems to be an attempt to erase the traces of the Fukushima accident and to restart the remaining and currently suspended nuclear power plants."

On President Yoon Suk-yeol's meeting with Prime Minister Kishida and his statement respecting the IAEA announcement, Wi pointed out, "It seems that the decision to discharge was effectively made overseas," and criticized, "Just because we gave so much to Japan does not mean Japan will feed our people or guarantee their safety and lives."