International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, held a meeting on July 9 with members of South Korea's political opposition party to address their concerns over Japan's proposed plan to release treated radioactive water from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, Reuters reports.
A Democratic Party member, who chairs a special committee on the issue, stated that the IAEA's findings on Tokyo's plan had "shortcomings" and emphasized that widespread public concerns over safety were legitimate and reasonable.
Grossi acknowledged the anxieties in the region, recognizing the significance of the matter at hand. During the meeting, he remarked, "The issue at hand today has attracted a lot of interest, and this is absolutely logical because the actions and the way in which Japan will be addressing this... have important implications."
Grossi arrived in Seoul on July 7 after concluding a trip to Japan, where his agency approved the controversial project to discharge water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. In South Korea, hundreds of protesters gathered in central Seoul on July 8 to denounce the IAEA's review, considering it to be insufficient. They criticized the IAEA, accusing it of being influenced by Japan.
In defense of the IAEA's decision, Grossi emphasized the meticulousness of the approval process, describing the report as "very thorough." He highlighted that no expert had expressed disagreement with its content.
South Korean opposition lawmakers have also mobilized against Japan's plan, with some going on hunger strikes to protest the potential discharge. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) spokesperson, Han Sang-jin, expressed skepticism about the IAEA's report.
“The IAEA has no choice but to have a report representing the positions of the United States and Japan (due to the budgets supported by the two countries). They say there are only a few risks possible, but what if that really happens and who’s going to be responsible for that?” Stated Han Sang-jin.
Protests in South Korea continued, with demonstrators holding whale-shaped blue balloons and banners opposing the dumping of radioactive waste into the ocean. The concerns raised encompassed not only the impact on humans but also the potential harm to marine life.
"It makes little sense to argue that the release is okay because it does not harm humans. Animals also live in the ocean." - says 19-year-old student, Kim Han-bi.
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