TENS of thousands of South Koreans gathered in downtown Seoul on Saturday to condemn Japan’s radioactive wastewater release.
In response to the wastewater release that started last Thursday, around 50,000 people from different walks of life joined the said protest, including members of political parties in the country as well as civic groups who are calling out the Japanese government to stop dumping radioactive wastewater into the ocean.
Also triggering South Koreans is the South Korean government’s stand of allowing Japan to do as it pleases regarding its planned release.
According to the protesters, Japan’s selfish acts will amount to disastrous consequences for the sea and human life, asking who would be at fault for the damage caused by the Fukushima wastewater release in the distant future.
That is why the rallies urged the Japanese government to immediately stop the release of nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean while also asking the South Korean government to act quickly and stop Japan from what it was doing.
“This is clearly a crime against humanity, and Japan must be prosecuted before the international tribunal for the law of the sea. We should stop Japan’s crimes of nuclear terrorism against humanity,” a protester said.
In addition, a protester said that what Japan is doing is a clear criminal act towards humanity and that the entirety of Japan should be prosecuted in the face of the international tribunal due to its transgressions of the law of the sea, adding that it should also stop its nuclear terrorism.
“The government of Yoon Suk Yeol lied to the public, saying that the discharge was okay instead of opposing the release of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Nuclear Plant in Japan. I’m very unhappy with this acquiescence, so I’m here to protest,” another protester said.
On the other hand, protesters expressed disappointment to the administration of Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol and its role in Japan’s efforts to push the discharge plan.
On the same day, around 1,000 people rallied at Busan Station Plaza, where they marched towards the Japanese Consulate General in Busan, as well as in Gyeongju and other parts of South Korea.
