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Participants in a national day of action rally against the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant march toward the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on July 8. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

While International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi visited South Korea, the group Collective Action against Japan’s Dumping of Radioactive Water into the Ocean gathered in Gwanghwamun Square Saturday afternoon for its fourth “national day of action” rally, demanding that Japan store irradiated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on land instead of releasing it into the ocean.

“We are rallying today to protest the IAEA’s publication of its final report that exonerates Japan’s plan to dump contaminated water from Fukushima and evades consequent responsibility,” the group stated.

Participants in a national day of action rally against the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant march toward the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on July 8. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

“[Our government] has come to the assessment that ‘the impact on humans and the environment will be negligible’ based solely on information provided by the Japanese government, saying it will monitor [Japan’s] implementation [of its plan to release irradiated water into the sea]. We strongly oppose being forced to endure unnecessary radiation exposure for the reason that release of irradiated water from Fukushima will be within safety limits, even though the public’s fear and anxiety, damages to fishers, threats to health, and socioeconomic losses for surveillance and examination will increase and South Korea will see no benefit,” the group claimed.

A whale-shaped balloon with a sticker bearing a message opposing the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean floats above protesters as they march toward the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

Arguing that “the dumping of contaminated water generated by a nuclear accident is unprecedented worldwide,” the group also demanded that Japan “come up with a much safer land storage plan.” The group announced that it will hold its fifth “national day of action” rally on Aug. 12.

Participants in a national day of action rally against the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant chant “Store it on land, don’t dump it in the ocean” in Gwanghwamun Seoul on July 8. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

Members of Maru, an artists collective, mock the Yoon administration and the People Power Party as selling radioactively contaminated water and fish. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

Participants in a national day of action rally against the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant rip up a copy of the IAEA’s comprehensive report on the discharge plan. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

Choi Ye-yong, director of Eco-Health: Asian Citizen’s Center for Environment and Health, and a fellow activist hold up a sign lampooning the IAEA as TEPCO’s “best friend.” (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

Participants in a national day of action rally against the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant march toward the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on July 8. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

By Kim Jung-hyo, senior staff writer

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