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Korean fishers take part in a rally outside South Korea’s National Assembly on June 12 protesting Japan’s plan to dump radioactive water into the ocean. (Kim Hye-yun/The Hankyoreh)

Fishers from all across South Korea gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Monday, protesting Japan’s plan to dump radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear meltdown into the ocean.

“According to a survey conducted by Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, 72% of the public said they would consume less seafood affected by contaminated water from Fukushima released in the ocean if the contaminated water gets dumped,” the fishers argued.

Korean fishers take part in a rally outside South Korea’s National Assembly on June 12 protesting Japan’s plan to dump radioactive water into the ocean. (Kim Hye-yun/The Hankyoreh)

“For fishers who have only ever known the sea and made their livelihood through the sea, the prospect of not only the seafood they worked hard to fish not selling but also their livelihood, the sea, being contaminated, can only elicit fear and even despair,” they exclaimed.

“We hope our government fulfills its duty to protect our territory and the safety of its citizenry,” they demanded.

Korean fishers take part in a rally outside South Korea’s National Assembly on June 12 protesting Japan’s plan to dump radioactive water into the ocean. (Kim Hye-yun/The Hankyoreh)

Korean fishers take part in a rally outside South Korea’s National Assembly on June 12 protesting Japan’s plan to dump radioactive water into the ocean. (Kim Hye-yun/The Hankyoreh)

By Kim Hye-yun, staff reporter

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