Demonstrations in South Korea against the Scheduled Disposal of Fukushima Wastewater Amid Visit of IAEA Chief

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On Saturday, in Seoul, South Korea, hundreds took to the streets demanding Japan abandon its intentions to discharge treated wastewater from the ruined Fukushima nuclear power plant. These protests coincided with a visit by the chief of the United Nations’ nuclear agency, who was there to address public apprehensions about food safety.

This wave of protests was sparked the day after the South Korean government officially approved the safety measures in the Japanese plan. The government confirmed that the contamination levels in the water pumped out from the plant would meet the acceptable standards and won’t significantly impact South Korean waters provided the plant’s treatment systems function as intended.

This proclamation concurs with the stance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which endorsed the Japanese wastewater disposal plan earlier this week. According to the agency, the treated wastewater would align with global safety norms and have minimal impact on the environment and health.

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Despite the sweltering summer heat and under the surveillance of law enforcement, demonstrators assembled in a commercial area in downtown Seoul, carrying placards that read, “We condemn the oceanic disposal of Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater!” and “We oppose the oceanic discharge with our lives.” The protest march was orderly, with no significant conflicts or injuries reported.

Han Sang-jin, a spokesperson for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, whose members comprised a large portion of the protesters, proposed alternative solutions, “Instead of discharging the water into the sea, Japan could store the water on land, among other suggestions.” He expressed his disdain for Japan’s plan, equating it to an “international crime.”

The demonstrations occurred against the backdrop of a tense meeting between IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin. They convened to deliberate the IAEA’s evaluation of the Japanese wastewater disposal plan. Park urged the IAEA to actively verify the safety of the released wastewater and reassure the South Korean public.

Grossi stated his readiness to discuss concerns with critics, including South Korean opposition politicians, prior to his journey to South Korea. Upon his arrival, he was met by numerous incensed demonstrators at an airport near Seoul, condemning the IAEA’s approval of the disposal plan with signs such as “Dismantle IAEA!” and “Fukushima wastewater will definitely lead all humanity to disaster!”

On Sunday, Grossi is expected to meet opposition Democratic Party lawmakers who have severely criticized the Japanese plan and accused President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative South Korean government of compromising public health in a bid to strengthen ties with Tokyo.

The issue of Fukushima’s wastewater safety has been a point of contention for years between the two U.S. allies, Japan and South Korea. Lately, both have been making efforts to mend relations, traditionally fraught over wartime historical disputes, in order to jointly address challenges like the nuclear threat from North Korea and China’s aggressive foreign policy.

South Korea’s endorsement of the disposal plan was partly based on findings by a team of government scientists who were permitted to inspect the Fukushima plant in May.

The 2011 earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc on the Fukushima plant’s cooling systems, leading to the meltdown of three reactors and massive radiation release.

The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, has been storing the treated water in hundreds of tanks that now cover most of the plant. These tanks are nearing full capacity. Japanese officials argue that the tanks must be removed to make space for constructing facilities for decommissioning the plant and to minimize the risk of leaks in case of another disaster. The tanks are expected to reach their full capacity of 1.37 million tons in early 2024.

Japan announced its plan to discharge the treated water into the sea in 2018, asserting that the water would be further diluted by seawater prior to controlled release over several decades.

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This report includes contributions from Big Big News video journalist Yong Jun Chang.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Fukushima wastewater protests

More about Fukushima wastewater protests

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
• Fukushima wastewater disposal plan
• Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings
• Korean Confederation of Trade Unions