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Ex-president and ruling party lawmaker clash online over Fukushima water release
Former President Moon Jae-in / Courtesy of Democratic Party of Korea
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
Former President Moon Jae-in was engaged in a heated online confrontation with Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the ruling People Power Party over their views on Japan's release of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
The battle began after Ha wrote on his Facebook, Thursday, that the former president should know that Japan's wastewater release would have little impact on the waters surrounding Korea.
“At the time, Moon's foreign minister said the government will follow the decision to be made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Ha wrote. “Supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea should face up to the reality.”
The comments came amid intensifying protests from the opposition party over the Fukushima release. The party has argued that the release would pose great health risks to people, with Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung denouncing it “as an act of terror.”
In April 2021, when Moon was in power, the Japanese government announced a plan to start releasing water containing tritium, an isotope of hydrogen, into the ocean starting this year, despite concerns raised by neighboring countries and fishing groups in the region.
Japan began discharging the first batch of wastewater into the ocean, Thursday, as the IAEA gave final approval to the discharge plan last month, saying it meets international standards.
The Yoon Suk Yeol government also said earlier this week that it saw no scientific or technical problems with Japan's release of radioactive water.
Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the ruling People Power Party speaks during a media briefing at the National Assembly in this July 6, 2022 photo. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
In response to Ha's post, the former president made it clear that he has opposed Japan's plan to release the contaminated water.
“I also think the Yoon government is doing the wrong thing in responding to the issue,” Moon wrote on his Facebook.
“The people's anxiety is growing. Fishermen and those working in the related industry are expected to suffer financially. The government should draw up strong measures to support them.”
But Ha shot back, citing that Chung Eui-yong, who was the foreign minister under the Moon government, told the National Assembly on April 19, 2021 that “there would be no reason for the government to oppose Japan's plan if the release is done in accordance with IAEA standards and procedures.”
The third-term lawmaker said Chung's comments showed the Moon government's official stance on the issue, which was not different from that of the Yoon government.
“Although you left office, you should be consistent regarding foreign policies,” Ha wrote.