"Stop Spreading Rumors That Divide the Nation"
Jeong Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, is briefing on current issues at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office stated on the 23rd, a day before the one-year anniversary of Japan's Fukushima contaminated water discharge into the ocean, that "despite the absurd rumors without scientific basis being exposed as false propaganda, the opposition party, the 'source of the rumors,' is showing irresponsible behavior without even offering a public apology."
Jung Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, said during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul, "The 24th marks one year since the opposition party spread the Fukushima rumors."
Spokesperson Jung explained, "Over the past year, the government has been fighting these rumors. The Yoon Suk-yeol administration believed that the only way to overcome these rumors was through objective scientific verification," adding, "To this end, the number of marine radiation monitoring sites was expanded from 92 to 243, and certificates of origin were verified for all imported seafood reported."
He continued, "Over the past year, more than 49,600 tests were conducted on samples collected from domestic waters and international waters, and there was not a single case that exceeded safety standards."
Spokesperson Jung emphasized, "If it were not for the opposition party's absurd rumor-mongering about nuclear waste and a second Pacific War, the 1.6 trillion won budget spent during this process would not have been necessary," adding, "If the opposition party had trusted scientific evidence and focused on politics for the people's livelihood rather than division, this public money could have been used to help socially vulnerable groups."
He pointed out, "The social costs incurred from increased public fear and national division cannot even be quantified in monetary terms," and "The damage from these rumors has directly affected fishermen, seafood industry workers, and the public."
Spokesperson Jung said, "Fortunately, the wise citizens trusted scientific evidence and had confidence in our government," noting, "Seafood sales at the three major supermarkets have exceeded usual levels, and imports of Japanese seafood have increased compared to last year, indicating a recovery in seafood consumption."
He criticized, "The opposition party, instead of reflecting, is still focused solely on absurd rumors and provocations with inflammatory remarks," and "They deliberately ignore the government's test results of about 50,000 cases and keep repeating parrot-like comments demanding 'evidence to prove safety.'"
Furthermore, he urged, "The opposition party is the one repeatedly engaging in illogical, baseless, and irresponsible behavior," and "Following mad cow disease and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) issues, we hope they will now stop spreading divisive rumors about Fukushima, promise to cease such actions, and apologize to the public immediately."
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