Gyeonggi Province Selects 52 Citizen Contents for Promoting Prevention of Japan's Unauthorized Nuclear Wastewater Discharge

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 15th that it has selected 2 grand prize works from a total of 435 submissions in a public content contest aimed at raising national awareness and interest in preventing Japan's unauthorized discharge of nuclear wastewater.

The province held a content contest from the 1st to the 21st of last month in three categories: posters, characters, and message phrases.

The two grand prize works are both posters. One is by a fifth-grade elementary school student depicting a mutated double-headed sea turtle hesitating about where to go due to radiation contamination, and the other is a work raising awareness about whether it is truly safe to drink the contaminated water that the Japanese government claims is safe.

Gyeonggi Province will award 500,000 won in local currency and Onnuri gift certificates to each of the two grand prize winners, and will distribute 10,000 won mobile gift certificates around the 17th to 50 applicants whose works advanced to the final judging stage: 11 posters, 1 character design, and 38 message entries.

The selected works are planned to be utilized as social media images and promotional messages for preventing Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge.

Previously, Gyeonggi Province issued a joint statement with 31 cities and counties to declare concrete collective action to demand Japan's reversal of its decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water.

Subsequently, to strengthen international cooperation, the province sent letters signed by the provincial governor to Japan and local governments on Pacific coasts.

Following Gyeonggi Province's announcement in May of "Gyeonggi Province's Response Policy Regarding Japan's Wastewater Discharge," the province signed policy agreements with North Gyeongsang Province and South Jeolla Province for joint response to nuclear wastewater discharge.

Additionally, the province plans to establish independent radioactivity testing capabilities and personnel for Gyeonggi Bay and fishery products by 2023, and will strengthen inspections on the country of origin of seafood at all restaurants and retail outlets in the province every year.

Ahn Dong-gwang, Director of Gyeonggi Province's Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Affairs Bureau, stated, "Preventing Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge is about protecting the lives and safety of all citizens and future generations," and added, "To create a better future, Gyeonggi Province will continue to join forces with the central government, civil society, and the international community."