Kim Dong-yeon: "Only the Government Can Do This"...Calls Against Japan's Nuclear Wastewater Discharge

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon voiced opposition to Japan's discharge of nuclear wastewater on World Environment Day.

On the 5th, Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated via SNS, "As expected, the inspection team's report from its visit to Japan following the Korea-Japan leaders' agreement was merely a result of 'facility inspections.' It is impossible to grasp the reality based only on limited information provided by Japan, nor is it possible to verify the IAEA report," adding "From the outset, 'scientific verification by seeing with our own eyes' is itself a contradiction in terms."

He then proposed a method, saying "Once nuclear wastewater is discharged, it cannot be reversed. We can file a suit at the International Court of Justice on the Law of the Sea, claiming the wastewater discharge violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and request 'provisional measures' to prevent marine discharge until the ruling is made."

Governor Kim emphasized, "This is something only the government can do. It is time to do everything we can to protect the health and safety of our people."

Below is the full text of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

<We Must Not Give Up on National Safety>

Today is World Environment Day.

It is a day when the international community pledges joint efforts to preserve our planet's environment.

Japan has announced it will discharge wastewater in July, leaving citizens anxious.

As expected, the inspection team's report from its visit to Japan following the Korea-Japan leaders' agreement was merely a result of 'facility inspections.' It is impossible to grasp the reality based only on limited information provided by Japan, nor is it possible to verify the IAEA report.

From the outset, 'scientific verification by seeing with our own eyes' is itself a contradiction in terms.

The Japanese government has issued a 'White Paper on Fisheries,' stating that 'import restrictions on fishery products should be lifted.' Following the inspection team's visit, they will intensify calls to lift our country's import ban.

Once nuclear wastewater is discharged, it cannot be reversed.

We can file a suit at the International Court of Justice on the Law of the Sea, claiming the wastewater discharge violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and request 'provisional measures' to prevent marine discharge until the ruling is made.

This is something only the government can do. It is time to do everything we can to protect the health and safety of our people.