Opposition Holds Rally Condemning Japan's Contaminated Water Discharge... Includes Vulgar Remarks Like "Yoon, a Jap to the Bone"

The opposition held a rally in downtown Seoul on the 9th to criticize the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan and the government's response.

Opposition Party Urges Suspension of Nuclear Contaminated Water Ocean Discharge
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized at the rally held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, with participation from about 90 civic groups, saying, "This administration only does what it is told not to do and neglects what it is supposed to do." He also said, "They do not revive the economy or respect the people, but engage in ideological warfare and erase proud history. I cannot understand where they are trying to lead South Korea."

Park added, "We asked them to stop the ocean discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima, but they eventually accepted it and are even promoting its safety using our money. Is this really a government operated with the taxes we pay?" He continued, "Let's show the Yoon Seok-yeol administration the sharp taste of the people and prove that the people always win."

Besides Park Kwang-on, the Democratic Party's leadership including Seo Young-kyo and Park Chan-dae, as well as several lawmakers, attended the rally. Lee Jae-myung, the party leader who appeared before prosecutors as a suspect in the 'Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case,' did not attend the rally that day.

Jaein Party floor leader Bae Jin-kyo criticized, saying, "We are exactly regressing to the era of military dictatorship under Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan," and added, "With the current government and ruling party, they might even enact a 'Contaminated Water Rumor Punishment Act.'"

At the rally, there was also a slur directed at President Yoon Seok-yeol, calling him "just a Jap to the bone" (Lee Sang-gyu, former co-chairman of the Progressive Party). He said, "All opposition parties should unite tightly and join forces to bring down the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."