Lawmakers from South Korea’s Democratic Party Voice Concerns Over Fukushima Contaminated Water in US Visit
Democratic Party lawmakers express opposition to release of Fukushima’s contaminated water during visit to the United States
A delegation of lawmakers from South Korea’s Democratic Party, led by contributing lawmaker Lee Su-jin, visited the United States with the aim of raising public awareness and encouraging international action against the release of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant. However, their efforts faced setbacks as they met with State Senator Gordon Johnson of New Jersey, rather than a federal senator with influence over the US federal government. Furthermore, their proposal to take a commemorative photo with a poster opposing the release of Fukushima’s contaminated water was rejected.
During the meeting with State Senator Johnson, Lee Su-jin highlighted the deteriorating health of Representative Lee Jae-myung, who had been on a hunger strike for 16 days. Lee emphasized that one of the primary reasons for the hunger strike was the perceived lack of involvement by the Korean government in the decision-making process regarding the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Lee Su-jin stated, “The release of Fukushima’s contaminated water poses a serious international crime, endangering the health of people worldwide and the marine ecosystem. It is crucial for the United States to clearly express its position at the federal level to reassure the people of South Korea.”
Despite the meeting lasting over 40 minutes, State Senator Johnson refrained from offering his own opinion on the matter apart from conveying the concerns raised by the delegation to central politicians. He clarified that as a state senator from New Jersey, his influence was limited to local affairs and that he would communicate their message to the appropriate US senator representing New Jersey’s district.
Moreover, Representative Johnson declined the request for a commemorative photo with the lawmakers while holding a poster depicting fish bones and nuclear waste, symbolizing their opposition to Fukushima’s contaminated water. Instead, he agreed to a photo holding a sign with the phrase ‘Protect the Pacific,’ omitting any graphical representation.
It is worth noting that Representative Johnson, a former member of the US Army, has attended Korean events in the past due to the significant number of Korean voters in his constituency. However, he does not possess direct connections to the energy sector, including nuclear power plants.
In a separate meeting, Representative Lee Yong-seon of the Democratic Party and Representative Eun-mi Kang of the Justice Party discussed the issue with Representative Andy Kim, a member of the US House of Representatives, in Willingboro, South New Jersey. As a Korean-American, Representative Kim expressed his willingness to consider future actions from his own perspective.
The Democratic Party released a press statement detailing the outcomes of their visit to the United States. The party’s ‘Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Polluted Water Comprehensive Countermeasures Committee to Prevent Ocean Tipping’ highlighted their concerns about the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, which they claimed failed to adequately consider the interests of Pacific countries and Japan. They also called for active engagement and solidarity from the American political sphere.
Representative Andy Kim expressed gratitude for the delegation’s efforts to raise awareness regarding contaminated water from nuclear power plants and assured them that the situation would be actively examined to determine future actions.
Additionally, Representative Soo-jin Lee discussed the case of New York State, where the discharge of nuclear power plant wastewater into the Hudson River was banned. Lee urged the Governor of New Jersey, the federal assembly, and the US federal government to propose operational responses to address the issue of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The countermeasures committee stated that Representative Johnson, in reference to cases in New York State and Massachusetts, pledged to make active efforts at the local level to address potential problems with contaminated water from nuclear power plants that could arise in the future at two nuclear power plants in New Jersey.
Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea visited the United States, saying they would take part in a public opinion campaign to stop the release of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant. However, I met with a state senator, not a federal senator who influences the US federal government. A proposal to take a commemorative photo holding a poster opposing the release of Fukushima’s contaminated water was also rejected.
Lawmakers from the Democratic Party, including contributing lawmaker Lee Su-jin (second from right), took action against the release of Fukushima’s contaminated water in the United States./Representative Lee Su-jin’s Facebook page
Lee Soo-jin, a contributing lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, met with State Senator Gordon Johnson in Inglewood, New Jersey, USA on the 15th (local time) and said, “Representative Lee Jae-myung’s health has deteriorated significantly on the 16th day of fasting,” adding, “The biggest reason for fasting is (Fukushima). ) This is because the Korean government played very little role in the process of releasing contaminated water from the nuclear power plant.”
Representative Lee then said, “It is a serious international crime that threatens the health of people around the world and the marine ecosystem,” and added, “I think the people of the Republic of Korea will feel reassured that but when the United States also clearly states its position at the federal level.”
In a meeting that lasted for more than 40 minutes that day, Representative Johnson is said to have listened to Representative Lee and his party’s comments, but he did not express any opinion other than that he would convey his opinion to central politicians.
Representative Johnson said, “I’m just a politician from New Jersey,” and “I will convey that message to the United States senator whose district is in New Jersey.” The New Jersey State Senate is a local council not affiliated with the US Senate in Washington, DC.
After the meeting, Rep. Johnson declined a request to take a commemorative photo with Rep. Lee and his party while holding a poster opposing Fukushima’s contaminated water depicting fish bones and nuclear waste. Representative Johnson took a commemorative photo holding a sign with just the phrase ‘Protect the Pacific’ with no graphics.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, holds a picket at the international joint meeting on the withdrawal of marine dumping of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 4th./News 1
Representative Johnson, a former member of the US Army, attended Korean events such as Hanbok Day due to the nature of his constituency with many Korean voters, but is known to have no direct connection to the energy sector, such as nuclear power plants.
Apart from Representative Lee, Representative Lee Yong-seon of the Democratic Party and Representative Eun-mi Kang of the Justice Party met with Representative Andy Kim, a member of the US House of Representatives, in Willingboro, South New Jersey. Representative Kim, who is of Korean descent, reportedly responded, “I will think about what future measures I can take from my perspective.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party issued a separate press release detailing the results of this visit to the United States. The party’s ‘Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Polluted Water Comprehensive Countermeasures Committee to Prevent Ocean Tipping’ said, “Representatives Lee Yong-seon and Kang Eun-mi said in a meeting with Representative Andy Kim that the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) report, which became the basis for ocean dumping, he did not take into account the interests of countries near the Pacific and Japan. “We pointed out that they are not even following basic principles by evaluating only the interests of the government ,” he said, adding, “We also asked the American political world to take an active interest and stand in solidarity.”
He continued, “Representative Andy Kim expressed his gratitude for coming to inform us about the issue of contaminated water from nuclear power plants and responded by saying, ‘We will actively understand the content and the situation and take follow-up action .’”
In addition, “Representative Soo-jin Lee met with Representative Johnson, mentioned the New York State case, which banned the discharge of nuclear power plant wastewater into the Hudson River, and asked the Governor of New Jersey, the Federal Assembly, and government US federal government to suggest operational responses to the issue of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.” “He said.
The countermeasures committee added, “In addition to that proposal, Representative Johnson cited the New York State and Massachusetts cases and said he would make active efforts at the local level to respond to problems with contaminated water from nuclear power plants that could happen in the future at two nuclear power plants in New Jersey.”
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