Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi faced questions from South Korean legislators at a Seoul forum on Sunday over his decision to endorse Japan’s proposal to discharge water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. A recent joint poll conducted by South Korean and Japanese newspapers reveals that a significant 84% of South Koreans are opposed to the IAEA’s decision.

The forum was held to alleviate tensions surrounding the IAEA’s agreement reached with Japan. Grossi’s visit aimed to foster a better understanding and provide clarification on pertinent matters. However, the Democratic Party of South Korea has claimed that the proposed Japanese plan appears favorable only in the immediate context. Concerns persist regarding the long-term ramifications for the environment and public health resulting from the disposal of these waters.

Moreover, there is apprehension that such action sets a perilous precedent for other nations contemplating the disposal of nuclear waste into water bodies.

The Japanese government’s proposal aims to address the cleanup of nuclear water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, seeking to alleviate the repercussions of the devastating incident.

The plan outlines the utilization of an advanced filtration system to purify the water, followed by its controlled dilution with seawater in a ratio of one hundred to one. However, Japan’s advanced liquid treatment system (ALPS) has not been independently evaluated or certified.

The report emphasizes that the Japanese government holds the legal responsibility for discharging treated water from Fukushima Daiichi. However, the report does not fully confirm the safety of this action due to the presence of over 60 radionuclides and the lack of effective cleanup technology.

The release of this water will not occur as a single event. Instead, it will undergo a process of gradual purification, spanning 30 years, before being discharged into the global oceans via a dedicated tunnel system.

Harmful water discharge would violate the international law principles of marine environmental protection, due diligence, and state responsibility for transboundary damage.

However, the Democratic Party of South Korea has maintained its opposition. Notably, two of its National Assembly members have initiated a hunger strike, which, as per the party’s statement, has endured for 14 days thus far.

Concurrently, ordinary South Korean citizens continue to partake in ongoing marches against the plan, which have been sustained over several days.