16 University Students Released After Surprise Protest Against Contaminated Water at Japanese Embassy

Sixteen university students who were arrested while attempting to forcibly enter the Embassy of Japan in Seoul's Jongno District to protest against the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were released on the 26th.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official explained, "They are being released as there are no grounds for detention." Suspects detained under the act of catching in the act must either have an arrest warrant requested from the court or be released within 48 hours.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The "Fukushima Contaminated Water Dumping Opposition University Student Expedition Group" (Expedition Group) and 16 university students affiliated with the Progressive University Students Network were caught in the act on the afternoon of the 24th for illegally entering the Twin Tree Tower building in Junggak-dong, Jongno District, where the Japanese Embassy is located, and protesting illegally (charges include trespassing on a building). After being arrested, they were handed over in groups of four to the Geumcheon, Seocho, Jongam, and Gangdong Police Stations in Seoul and were investigated for two days.

Some exercised their right to remain silent and refused to provide personal information, and the police obtained search and verification warrants to collect fingerprints and confirm identities.

The police plan to investigate the organizers of the assembly for violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act and will decide whether to refer the case to the prosecution after analyzing the collected evidence.