"Fukushima Political Climate" Divided Public Opinion... Fueling Political Polarization

Ruling and Opposition Parties' Public Opinion Battle Over Nuclear Wastewater Discharge
Concerns Over Deepening Political Polarization Ahead of Next Year's General Election
"Worry Turning into Fear Would Be Problematic"

South Korea has been divided over the Japanese government's discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The political sphere is split into pro and con camps regarding the discharge, fueling public opinion division through political strife. The opposition parties have launched an all-out struggle, claiming that the safety of our citizens is threatened by this contaminated water discharge, while the ruling party counters these claims as 'contaminated water rumors.' With the general election for the National Assembly approaching next year, concerns are rising that the ruling and opposition parties, having lost cooperation, may further entrench political polarization through the Fukushima contaminated water issue.

According to political circles on the 24th, the Democratic Party held a large-scale candlelight rally at the National Assembly the previous evening, urging the Japanese government to stop the discharge of contaminated water. As the discharge began from the afternoon of that day, the party launched a massive public opinion campaign to highlight the responsibility of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. At the event, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung stated, "We condemn the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which has taken it upon itself to be the spokesperson for the Japanese government rather than the South Korean government." He also focused on the strong public opposition to the nuclear contaminated water discharge. Lee pressured the government and ruling party by saying, “The fact that 80% of the public opposes it is itself a warning from the people.”

In fact, according to a public opinion poll conducted by Gallup Korea in June with 1,007 respondents, 78% answered that they were “worried” about the question, “Are you concerned that the Fukushima discharge will contaminate Korean marine and seafood products?” In the same month, a joint poll by Yomiuri Shimbun and Hankook Ilbo of 1,000 Koreans also showed that 84% opposed the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The ruling party is counterattacking, accusing the Democratic Party of dividing public opinion with contaminated water rumors. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, urged at the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that day, “It is a pathetic act to turn the hall of popular will into a hall of rumors,” and called for an immediate halt to “anti-national acts that spread false news and incite falsehoods to protect Lee Jae-myung, destroying fishermen and livelihoods.” The People Power Party is focusing on alleviating public anxiety by emphasizing the safety of the discharge based on scientific verification and announcing plans to strengthen monitoring systems for the discharge.

The life-or-death confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over the Fukushima contaminated water discharge is expected to intensify ahead of next year’s general election. Starting from the regular session of the National Assembly next month, the opposition may further emphasize the responsibility of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to stir public opinion sensitive to food safety, while the ruling party is likely to respond with a “livelihood economic crisis due to rumors” narrative, similar to the 2008 “mad cow disease incident.”

Such political strife raises concerns that public opinion will become further divided, ultimately harming the people. The confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties not only deepens political polarization but may also push urgent livelihood issues to the back burner in government policy priorities. Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University’s Department of Political Science said, “Even China, which opposes the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge, has no response other than reducing imports of Japanese seafood by 28%. Since the discharge is a matter of Japan’s sovereignty, it cannot be stopped. If worries about the discharge turn into fear, it will damage our country’s fisheries industry and the people.”