The three opposition parties held large-scale weekend rallies for two consecutive weeks, including on the 26th of last month, intensifying their offensive against the ruling party by condemning Japan's discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The Democratic Party of Korea, the Basic Income Party, and the Progressive Party, along with about 90 civic groups participating in the 'Joint Action to Stop Japan's Radioactive Contaminated Water Marine Dumping,' held the '2nd Nationwide Rally to Stop Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water Marine Dumping and Condemn the Yoon Seok-yeol Government' on the 2nd in front of the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by many Democratic Party leaders and lawmakers, including party leader Lee Jae-myung, floor leader Park Kwang-on, Supreme Council members Park Chan-dae, Seo Young-kyo, and Jung Cheong-rae, Secretary-General Cho Jeong-sik, and Policy Committee Chair Kim Min-seok.
Holding a hand placard that read "Condemn the Yoon Seok-yeol Regime!" and stepping onto the stage, Lee said, "Didn’t you want a president who would boldly stand up and say, 'This is unacceptable, stop the discharge,' when a foreign country invades the territory of the Republic of Korea and infringes on maritime sovereignty?" He added, "When anxious citizens express dissatisfaction with politics and governance, shouldn’t the government listen seriously rather than criticize and insult them, and even if it cannot fully accept those voices 100%, respect them?"
He continued, "Even if Japan reveals its ambitions of invasion, didn’t you want a president who could shout, 'The East Sea is the East Sea, not the Sea of Japan,' and 'The United States should stop using the Sea of Japan label'?"
Regarding the relocation of the Hong Beom-do bust, he said, "It is unfair that the independence hero Hong Beom-do, who sacrificed himself for Korean independence in a distant foreign land, was forcibly relocated, and now, after returning to his homeland, must be forcibly relocated again."
He further stated, "Even if we have not yet realized the country we dream of, we must prevent the country from regressing into the past," emphasizing, "Let us prevent historical regression and the destruction of democracy and move forward together toward a democratic republic where the people are truly respected as sovereigns."
Meanwhile, the Justice Party, which participated in last week's first rally, held a separate party speech event near Balsan Station and Hwagok Station in Gangseo-gu to oppose the discharge of contaminated water.
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