STORY: S. Koreans rally against Japan's radioactive wastewater discharge plan
DATELINE: Aug. 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:14
LOCATION: Seoul
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of gathering
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Korean): KIM MIN-KYUNG, Chief of a South Korean university expedition team to oppose Fukushima radioactive wastewater discharge
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Korean): YEO IN-DOO, Citizen of Mokpo
 
STORYLINE:
 
Thousands of South Korean people, including activists and fishermen, gathered in central Seoul on Saturday to express their firm opposition to Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater into the ocean.
 
Amid wide criticism from both home and abroad, the Japanese government has been pushing to dump the nuclear-contaminated wastewater this summer from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Korean): KIM MIN-KYUNG, Chief of a South Korean university expedition team to oppose Fukushima radioactive wastewater discharge
"The ocean is not Japan's but belongs to all of us. I've also learned (about other ways to dispose of radioactive wastewater), such as hydrogen release and underground burial, which are much safer. But the reason why (Japan) chose (the discharge into the ocean) is that it is the cheapest and easiest way. In fact, I don't think the safety of people can be measured by money. If (radioactive wastewater) is released into the sea, the impact on the ocean will be uncertain."
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Korean): YEO IN-DOO, Resident of Mokpo, South Korea
"First of all, Japan's unilateral sea discharge (plan) is problematic. It is not just Japanese people who will be affected. Citizens all over the world will be affected. And South Korea will bear the brunt. So Japan needs to get consent from neighboring countries. Japan's unilateral sea discharge (plan) is a violation of the international order. The wastewater release will have a fatal effect on all the ecosystems. Then fishermen who engage in the fishing industry will face irreversible damage. Not only the fishing industry, but all related economic activities will suffer. Japan may not choose the sea discharge approach if the United States opposes it. Dumping it into the ocean is the cheapest way. (Japan) chose the cheapest way under the connivance of the United States."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Seoul.
(XHTV)