South Korean Government Says Japan's Radioactive Waste Water Release Plan Meets International Standards

Director General of IAEA Rafael Grossi (right) while inspecting the location of PLTN Fukushima radioactive waste disposal, Japan. (Twitter/@rafaelmgrossi)

JAKARTA - The Korean government said on Friday Japan's plan to release wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant had met international standards, including international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards.

The Seoul government announced this when it revealed its 22-month analysis of Tokyo's disposal plan. The South Korean government also said it respects the IAEA analysis of Fukushima wastewater, where the agency evaluates the overall water treatment system meets safety standards and has a radiological impact that can be ignored on humans and the environment.

"After the government analyzed the Japanese wastewater disposal plan, the total concentration of radioactive material met the disposal standards into the sea," said the Coordinating Minister for Government Policy Bang Moon-kyu at a press conference, reported the Korea Times July 7.

"For tritium, analysis detects a lower rate than Japan's standards, meeting international standards, including the IAEA standard."

Bang continued, the analysis was based on the premise that the water was thrown away as planned, and final considerations were only possible after Japan announced its final release plan and Korea confirmed its feasibility.

In its report, the South Korean government expects the wastewater to flow into South Korean waters four to five years after release, given that ocean currents flow in the direction opposite to the Pacific Ocean.

Furthermore, Bang also said the government respects the IAEA report on the planned release, which was disclosed on Tuesday.

"It has been the government's stance for a long time to recognize the IAEA as a prestigious institution that is agreed internationally and we respect its findings," said Bang.

However, Bang said Friday's results of analysis were only about the validity of the planned release submitted by Japan at the moment, adding the government would look at Tokyo's final release plans and conduct additional reviews if any changes were made.

Separately, the main opposition of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) held a demonstration before the National Assembly in Yeouido, condemning the government for prioritizing relations with Japan over threats to public health.

"IAEA stated in its report that they are not responsible for any results, and completely ignore the damage that neighboring countries may face," said DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung.

"The government is obsessed with hiding the crisis that may result from the release of contaminated water, only worrying about possible setbacks in improving Korea-Japan relations," he continued.

The DPK demanded President Yoon Suk Yeol reject the IAEA analysis and asked Japan to postpone its disposal plan until scientific, objective and neutral verification can be carried out.

It is known that IAEA Director Rafael Grossi will arrive in South Korea on Friday evening, having previously been in Japan, for a three-day visit, planning to meet Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Head of Nuclear Security and Safety Commission Yoo Guk-hee.