[Press Release for Immediate Release]

Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water

The 4th National Rally in Response to 

IAEA Director General's Visit to Korea

• About 428,000 signatures were collected by the day and 3,000 people gathered on the 4th National Rally

• Condemnations continues from various stakeholders, including teachers, fishermen, lawyers, and lawmakers from Japan and Korea

• Picket demonstration on July 14 in front of the UN headquarter in New York and Candlelight action on August 12 in Korea announced

“The Yoon Seok-yeol government must firmly oppose ocean dumping.”

“Do not dump Fukushima contaminated water into the ocean, store it on land!”

“Destroy the IAEA report that aids dumping at sea!”

“We condemn the Yoon Seok-yeol government that accepts the dumping of contaminated water from Fukushima!”

“Stop dumping at sea!”

On July 8 (Sat), at 18:00, the 4th national rally to stop dumping of contaminated water in response to the visit of the IAEA Director General to Korea in front of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. In the national rally, people strongly demand that Grossi, the IAEA Director General, who gave indulgence to the dumping of contaminated water, discard the final report of the IAEA. The Korean government is condemned for its virtually supporting the dumping of contaminated water in Japan, and “storing on land in long term within Japanese territory” and “lawsuit to the International Court of Law of the Sea” are called for.

As of today, around 428,000 Korean people joined the statement against Fukushima waste water dumping at sea, and 100,000 signatures were achieved in Busan alone. The statement with signatures will be sent to the National Assembly and the government for the first time. The opposition is not only in Korea and Japan but occurs worldwide such as West LA city council’s resolution in the United States, statement of Nuclear Free Local Authorities in UK, people’s demonstrations in New York and Berlin.

Jae-hun AHN, Campaign Director of KFEM, announced that Grossi is in a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs across the street, and was furious, saying, “Why did you come to Korea if the release of Fukushima water has nothing to do with South Korea? it doesn’t make sense.” “Even in the report, it is stated that the IAEA is not responsible. Should I believe this report?” The Korean government treats the people's voices demanding safety as a ghost story and misleads it as if the responsibility for damage lies with the public. He pointed out that if we remain silent, is it getting safer and doesn't damage occur?

Ju-hee HA, Secretary General of Lawyers for a Democratic Society(LDS), said, “The Japanese government is clearly violating international law. According to the International Convention on the Law of the Sea, when sending something out of the country, all measures must be taken to prevent it from spreading out. However, the Japanese government violated it.” In addition, it was pointed out that the Korean government did not demand the withdrawal of the plan to dump contaminated water at sea for the violation of international law by the Japanese government, nor did it take provisional measures by the maritime court. Apart from the irresponsibility and incompetence of the government, it was a violation of the duty to protect basic rights. Therefore, LSD would seek legal responsibility of the government through a constitutional petition.

Jungmi LEE, Representative of Justice Party, who is holding a hunger strike for the 13th day, pointed out the problems with the IAEA final report and emphasized that the dumping of contaminated water can be prevented by gathering the will of the Korean people and the will of the citizens of both Korea and Japan.

Hye-in YONG, Representative of Basic Income Party, criticized that “the president does not hesitate to make dangerous decisions that will lead to the destruction of humanity and the ecosystem.” She then pointed out that now is the time for the people of the country to deliberate and agree on the scientific safety of the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima. And she suggested a referendum to change the government's decision.

Seong-hui KANG, National Assemblyman of Progressive Party, announced that she had visited Japan to convey the voice of the people to the Japanese government in front of Prime Minister Kishida's official residence. She urged that the dumping of contaminated water, which is unknown by when it will be discharged beyond 30 years, must be stopped.

Ryoichi Hattori, Representative of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, shouted, “I will stop dumping at sea. Let's fight together," and said “the Japanese government and TEPCO have promised not to release contaminated water without the understanding of the people involved. Aren’t the people concerned Korean citizens?” He said, “The sea is a valuable property shared by both Japanese and Korean citizens. We cannot accept the Japanese government’s dumping in the ocean at will.” And he vented his anger that “the IAEA ignores the opposing voices of Japanese fishermen and citizens. They listen only to the voices of Tokyo Electric Power, which is a liar. How can you believe this? The ocean should not be turned into a nuclear waste dump. For the sake of our lives and safety, let Korean and Japanese citizens fight together in solidarity.”

Kim Gyeong-bok, the head of the Jeollabuk-do branch of the National Federation of Fishermen's Associations, who is engaged in blue crab fishing in Buan, Jeollabuk-do, said that he had been to Japan a few days ago through the ‘Tokyo Expedition to Stop Marine Dumping of Radioactive Contaminated Water from Progressive Party’ in order to meet Japanese fishermen and desperately to stop nuclear contaminated water. Even though he was unable to meet the fishermen in Japan, he held a picket criticizing the IAEA Director General and its report in front of Prime Minister Kishida's official residence for showing Korean fishermen’s voices. He pledged that Korean fishermen act together with others for their own livelihood and the life and safety of our children.

Hui-young JEON, President of Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, opened her mouth by saying, “These days, elementary school students say, ‘I can’t live because I am embarrassed by the president.’” They criticized who gave the authority to decide the issue of life and safety of all mankind to the criminal act of dumping nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. She said that the IAEA proposed ocean dumping first, and that “no Korean citizen can acknowledge the outcome of this absurd show.” She pointed out that the Ministry of Education is suppressing teachers who sign-in for the safety of students and teachers, and said, "What the Korean government should do is not to protect Japan's right to discharge water, but to protect the people's right not to be exposed to radiation."

Following speeches, the performance to discard the IAEA report, placed on top of the head and torn is done while shouting that the IAEA is not qualified to verify the contaminated water.

Peoples’ Action announced that it will continue its actions until Japan withdraws the dumping of contaminated water. To draw international attention to this issue, it will hold a picket demonstration next week in front of the UN headquarter in New York together with Korean society in New York and international CSOs who attend the UN SDGs High Level Political Forum from July 10~19. In addition, it was announced that a candlelight action would start from August 12 in Korea to prevent the dumping of contaminated water in the ocean by gathering all forces beyond the camp.

July 08, 2023

Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water