Opposition's 2nd Emergency Action Against 'Japan's Radioactive Water Discharge'... Ruling Party Claims "Seafood Boycott Movement Based on False Information"

Democratic Party to Hold Party Meeting on Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water Response on 31st
Yoon Jae-ok: "Opposition's Rumor Politics, a Futile Paper Tiger"

The ruling and opposition parties have entered a second round of confrontation over the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. The Democratic Party fiercely criticized the government's Fukushima measures in Jeonnam, their stronghold, and announced that they will hold an emergency two-day parliamentary meeting on the 31st to launch a second emergency action to block the discharge of contaminated water. On the other hand, the People Power Party pointed out the opposition's response as a "seafood boycott" and countered by promoting seafood consumption.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Kwang-on, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated at an on-site Supreme Council meeting held in Muan, Jeonnam on the 30th, "The Democratic Party has declared a 'National Safety Emergency' and entered an emergency system to protect the people from the ocean dumping of contaminated water and the irresponsibility of the Yoon Seok-yeol government." He added, "The damage to fishermen, the fisheries industry, and further to small business owners and the regional economy is clearly foreseeable, but the government is not presenting effective measures."

Park said, "The government has allocated 730 billion won for the contaminated water dumping budget. However, the government itself probably does not believe that this budget can support the affected citizens and fishermen," and urged, "We hope the government will come up with fundamental and definite measures." He continued, "The government should clearly reveal the truth and apologize even now," emphasizing, "Protecting the fishermen and fisheries of Jeonnam is the way to protect the fishermen and fisheries of the Republic of Korea, and protecting Jeonnam, the root of the Democratic Party, is the path forward for the Democratic Party. We will do our utmost to stop the ocean dumping of Fukushima contaminated water."

The previous day, the Democratic Party concluded a two-day workshop held at Oak Valley in Wonju, Gangwon, and issued a resolution stating, "We will end the era of regression and devote all our efforts to filling people's livelihoods and protecting the people." They also predicted a strong offensive against the ruling party, saying, "The process of Japan's ocean dumping of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima symbolically and compressively shows the Yoon Seok-yeol government's arbitrary, dogmatic, and autocratic governance."

On the 31st, the Democratic Party will hold a parliamentary meeting related to the election law amendment in the afternoon, followed by a two-day 'Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water Response Parliamentary Meeting' at the National Assembly's Rotunda Hall starting in the evening. Park announced an emergency parliamentary meeting notification that morning, saying, "It will be a time to find ways the Democratic Party can respond to the ocean dumping of Fukushima contaminated water and to unite our strength."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the People Power Party focused on seeking industry cooperation by holding a 'Mutual Cooperation Agreement Ceremony between the Fisheries Cooperative and Food Service Companies to Promote Seafood Consumption' at the National Assembly that morning.

Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, explained at the event, "The fisheries industry is facing a serious crisis," adding, "It is not due to natural causes such as disasters or environmental pollution, but due to anxiety caused by lies and rumors created by certain groups, leading to a sharp decline in consumption." This contrasts with the Democratic Party's claim that the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is damaging the domestic fisheries industry.

Yoon said, "Fortunately, during the first weekend after the discharge, seafood consumption actually increased compared to the same period last year, and the atmosphere on-site, such as at Noryangjin, was not as bad as expected," and strongly criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "It has been revealed that the political rumor-mongering that incited the public to boycott seafood with false information and almost destroyed people's livelihoods was nothing but a futile paper tiger."

He continued, "The people are rational, but the agitators are blind, showing the true face of third-rate politics that ignores the level of first-rate citizens," emphasizing, "To recover from the consumption decline caused by false politics and restore trust in seafood safety, and to completely drive out false political agitation, the full support of the people is urgently needed. In this sense, this agreement ceremony is not only a mutual cooperation between the food service and fisheries industries but also a starting point to further solidify public trust."

Regarding the government's budget allocation to protect the fisheries industry, he said, "The support amount has been increased by 40% compared to this year, allocating more than 700 billion won," noting, "This is more than 200 billion won increase compared to last year." He added, "The government and ruling party will take all possible measures to ensure the public can feel safe under any circumstances," and "We will promptly prepare full support measures to restore seafood."