Presidential hopeful Yoon under fire over remarks on Fukushima disaster

People Power Party presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl speaks during his visit to the party's chapter in Eunpyeong District Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

By Nam Hyun-woo

Yoon Seok-youl, former prosecutor general and a presidential contender for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), is under fire for his recent remarks that there was no radioactivity leaked from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.

This marks Yoon's latest slip of the tongue, following his controversial comments on the government's plan regulating the workweek and “income classes.”

In an interview with the Busan Ilbo newspaper Wednesday, Yoon said, “The Fukushima nuclear plant did not explode,” and, “Though there was damage due to the tsunami and earthquake, the reactor did not collapse, thus there was no radiation leaked,” when asked about his thoughts on the risks of nuclear power plants.

Yoon apparently made the remarks as part of his criticism of the Moon Jae-in government's policy to phase out nuclear power.

Contrary to Yoon's assertion, the Fukushima nuclear plant was damaged by the massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and its cooling water became contaminated and began leaking, releasing radioactive materials such as strontium-90 and cesium-137. Due to its severity, the disaster was classified as Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale, same as the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.

Rep. Kim Du-kwan of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) wrote on Facebook, Friday, that Yoon should withdraw his presidential bid for continuously making controversial remarks.

“Even the Japanese government acknowledged that there was a radiation leak, but Yoon is saying there wasn't one,” Kim wrote. “Yoon is setting a world record in controversial comments by stirring one controversy per day with his rhetoric.”

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, a DPK presidential hopeful, said, “Yoon's comments, which lack any common sense, only cast worries and cause disappointment among the public,” asking Yoon “Where were you in 2011?”

Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers denounce People Power Party presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl's comments on the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster during a press conference at the National Assembly, Friday. Yonhap

The comment also drew criticism from presidential rivals within his party.

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choe Jae-hyeong, who announced his presidential bid as a PPP member this week, said Friday that “given his previous remarks, Yoon appears to be talking carelessly,” and “As a politician, his comments carry more weight than in the past.”

Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong, who resigned from his post to run in the election for the PPP, also criticized Yoon, saying, “I don't know what he is thinking about, just saying vague things.”

“Yoon has been suffering difficulties in presenting a common idea to the public when talking about leading the country,” Won said. “I don't understand why he is running in the presidential election.”

After Yoon's comments stirred up a huge controversy, the Busan Ilbo removed the article from its website, just four hours after it was published.

Before the Fukushima remarks, Yoon had already been rebuked for his comments on the government's workweek plan after he said, “Workers should be allowed to work 120 hours a week and then take a good rest.”

Before this, Yoon created headlines by saying, “The have-nots should be allowed to choose low-quality food,” triggering doubts about his ability to address the gap between income classes.

As criticism of him is rising, former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho, who is in Yoon's camp, said Friday, “Yoon himself also feels regret about the controversies stirred up by his remarks.”

Following these political gaffes, Yoon's support rating is showing signs of declining.

According to a poll from Gallup Korea, released Friday, Yoon's support stood at 19 percent, the first time it has dropped below 20 percent since March, when he resigned from the top prosecutor post.

With Yoon suffering from his self-inflicted wounds, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung from the ruling DPK is now leading the pack of presidential hopefuls with 25 percent.

The poll surveyed 1,001 adults from Aug. 3 to 5.