Kim Nam-guk, who shouted "Oppose Japan's contaminated water," spotted in Tokyo during Chuseok

"Political Activities" Unknown Even to Lawmaker's Office Staff

Independent lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who left the Democratic Party of Korea, was spotted in Ginza (銀座), Tokyo, Japan during the Chuseok holiday period. Since he had strongly opposed Japan's discharge of treated water from Fukushima, this visit to Japan sparked controversy.

According to reports from Chosun Ilbo and others on the 3rd, Kim Nam-guk was seen on September 1st at the pedestrian crossing at Ginza Station intersection in central Tokyo. At the time, Kim was reportedly taking out his phone while waiting for the signal at the crosswalk and photographing the clock tower of the Wako Building, a symbol of Ginza.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

The schedule was unknown even to his aides. Kim’s office explained regarding the Japan visit that it was a "planned political activity such as a supporters' meeting," adding, "He is covering travel expenses out of his own pocket and is carrying out the schedule alone without any aides." Some criticized this, saying, "It is absurd that aides did not know about a political activity."

Kim had vehemently opposed the discharge of treated water from Fukushima. In June, ahead of the discharge, he shared a post on Facebook stating that "Japan’s discharge of contaminated water could destroy DNA within the reproductive cells of children, reduce reproductive function, and cause birth defects in their descendants."

He also described the scientific community that claimed there was no problem with the discharge as either ignorant of human and marine ecology or as a group that had abandoned their conscience.

Jeong Ki-nam, former spokesperson for the Democratic Party’s election committee, appeared on TV Chosun and said, "There is a saying that you should not even tie your hat string under a plum tree," adding, "Criticizing the discharge of contaminated water while visiting Japan overlaps with the image of trading coins in the National Assembly standing committee meeting room."

Kim Nam-guk left the Democratic Party in May after being involved in a controversy over speculative cryptocurrency trading. The National Assembly Ethics Committee’s advisory subcommittee recommended his expulsion from the National Assembly.