Moves to Officialize the Term 'O염처리수'
Opposition Party "A Scheme to Deceive the Public" Backlash
Regarding the claim that the term for contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant should be changed to 'contaminated treated water,' the government stated, "Since various opinions are being presented, we will review which term is appropriate."
On the 31st, Park Gu-yeon, the First Deputy Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said during a daily briefing at the Government Complex Seoul, "Some people misunderstand that the term will be changed immediately, but that is absolutely not the case," adding, "After the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee finishes today, there might be time to analyze opinions from various sectors."
The issue of changing the term has been controversial even before the ocean discharge of Fukushima contaminated water. Japan used the term 'treated water' to mean 'cleanly purified,' but criticism arose that some ruling party members advocating for the term 'contaminated treated water' were representing Japan's position.
Currently, the People Power Party has announced its intention to officially adopt the term 'contaminated treated water' regarding Fukushima contaminated water. This is due to concerns that the term 'contaminated water' could harm fishermen and the fisheries industry. Seong Il-jong, chairman of the party’s Our Sea Protection Verification Task Force, said on the 30th after the 'Mutual Agreement Ceremony for Seafood Consumption between the Fisheries Cooperative and the School Meal Industry,' "(The term) contaminated treated water is correct," adding, "(The opposition) calls it contaminated water or nuclear wastewater for political attacks."
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also responded "We will review it" when asked about the possibility of changing the term for contaminated water during the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee comprehensive policy questioning on the same day. Prime Minister Han said, "It is not contaminated water being discharged, but contaminated water that has been treated according to scientific standards," and added, "The contaminated water treated through ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System), as mentioned by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is, in my opinion, the scientifically accurate term."
Seo Dong-yong, Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the policy coordination meeting on the 31st, "Japan claims scientific verification, but it cannot be said that it has been perfectly treated or that there are no problems. Therefore, it is still contaminated water," and questioned, "Since the discharge has already started, are they trying to change the name to treated water to give the public the impression that the contaminated water is safe?"
Kim Han-gyu, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, also raised his voice, saying, "Ultimately, it is an attempt to blind the public by changing just one expression." Spokesperson Kim pointed out, "The fundamental problem of the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water controversy is the government's attitude of not doing what it should, which is to express opposition," adding, "This is absolutely not a problem that can be solved by bizarre measures such as 'eat to support,' 'forced meal pressure,' or 'official name change.'"
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