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| Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) hold a rally, March 30, denouncing the Korean government's response to Japan's planned release of radioactive wastewater from Fukushima's nuclear power plant into the ocean. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-gwon |
By Lee Hyo-jin
Some lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are planning to travel to Fukushima Prefecture later this week, as part of efforts to deter Japan's planned release of radioactive wastewater from the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
During their three-day visit, starting Thursday, the lawmakers will seek meetings with officials from Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), residents, fishers and lawmakers in the northeastern region of Japan. They will also conduct on-site inspections near the crippled power plant. The DPK members are also planning to visit the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday, to lodge complaints.
The move comes in protest of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's lack of response on the issue. The DPK has been criticizing the government for not taking sufficient measures against Japan's planned release of contaminated radioactive water in its push to reconcile with Tokyo.
The opposition lawmakers have demanded the launch of a parliamentary investigation on the March 16 summit between Yoon and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, suspecting that Yoon may have made concessions concerning the agenda.
An earlier report by Japan's Kyodo News claimed that Yoon had vowed to seek public consent from Koreans over the dumping of the irradiated water. The Korean presidential office denied the report, saying the safety and health of the people remain its top priority in the matter.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP), for its part, denounced the DPK's planned visit to Fukushima, calling it an attempt to stoke public fear by spreading groundless rumors about the treated wastewater.
The Japanese government is seeking to discharge the irradiated water, which is currently stored at the tsunami-hit nuclear power plant in Fukushima, into the Pacific Ocean as early as this summer.
Tokyo claims that the filtered water has been tested for concentration levels of radioactive nuclides. But Korea, along with China and other Pacific Rim countries, has been demanding the plan's withdrawal.
