Budget Committee points out term 'Cheorisoo'
"We will review it," says official
Similar mention to term 'IMF Satae'
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated on the 30th that there is a distortion similar to the 'IMF crisis' regarding the use of the term 'contaminated water' for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (the Japanese government's term is 'treated water'), and that the term 'scientifically treated contaminated water' is appropriate. When asked about changing the term to 'treated water,' he said, "We will consider it."
On the same day, Prime Minister Han appeared at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee's comprehensive policy questioning session in the morning. When Ahn Byung-gil, a member of the People Power Party, asked, "The head of the Fisheries Cooperative officially announced that he would call it Fukushima treated water. The government needs to address the terminology issue," he responded accordingly.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is attending the Ministerial Meeting on State Affairs held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 6th, delivering opening remarks. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@
Prime Minister Han said, "The logic that 'contaminated water is being discharged and it is like a nuclear bomb' is completely incorrect," adding, "It is not contaminated water being discharged, but contaminated water that has been treated according to scientific standards that is being discharged." He further explained, "The contaminated water treated through ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System), as mentioned by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). I believe this is the scientifically accurate expression."
He said, "Some media outlets are already using terms like 'contaminated water treated water,' but I think the terms are currently mixed," and emphasized, "What is clear is that contaminated water is never being discharged."
He also connected the term 'contaminated water' to the expression 'IMF crisis.' Prime Minister Han said, "In 1997, when the foreign exchange crisis occurred, we received support from the IMF (International Monetary Fund), and for decades afterward, we have called it the IMF crisis," adding, "(The foreign exchange crisis) had nothing to do with the IMF. Rather, the IMF supported us to resolve the crisis."
He continued, "I think calling it the IMF crisis even now is similar to the use of the term contaminated water," and emphasized, "To be precise, it should be called scientifically treated contaminated water."
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