Korean gov't says it respects IAEA report on Fukushima water release

Social Affairs

Published: 05 Jul. 2023, 12:27 Updated: 05 Jul. 2023, 12:28

Korean gov't says it respects IAEA report on Fukushima water release

Park Ku-yeon, center, first deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, speaks on the Fukushima water release issue at a daily briefing at the government complex in central Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

The Korean government said Wednesday it will "respect" the results of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) review on the safety of Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

"Since the IAEA is an internationally-recognized authoritative body, the government's basic position is to respect its findings." Park Ku-yeon, first deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said during a briefing.

The remarks come after the IAEA concluded in a report after a two-year review on Japan's plan to release water from the defunct Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean to be "consistent with relevant international safety standards."

A massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, destroying the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, has said that all radioactive materials will be removed from the to-be-released water except tritium, which experts say is not harmful to human health in small amounts.

Japan's looming plan to release contaminated water stored in tanks at the plant has been a concerning issue for Koreans, as well as environmental groups, Japanese fishing industry and other neighboring countries. It has also become a polarizing political issue dividing Korea's liberal Democratic Party and conservative People Power Party.

Park added, "Unlike other countries, we have been conducting our own review work centered on the [Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety], which has been in progress for the second year now."

He said this scientific review is in the final stages, which will be shared in detail soon.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is also expected to make a three-day visit to Korea Friday, at the heels of a trip to Japan.

Park added that the "IAEA has repeatedly requested for continuous monitoring" and that Korea has also been involved in the process so far and "repeatedly emphasized that we need to continue to participate in any form in the future."

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]