박준기 ㅁㄴㅇㄴㅁㅇㅁㄴㅇㅁㄴㅇOcean at Risk: Busan Groups Fail to Stop Fukushima Contaminated Water Release

(Busan=News1) Reporter Jo Aseo – A civil lawsuit filed by environmental and civic groups in Busan against Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to prohibit the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has been dismissed on appeal.The Busan High Court’s 5th Civil Division, led by Chief Judge Kim Juho, announced on the 17th that it has rejected the plaintiffs’ claims in the lawsuit titled “Prohibition of Radioactive Contaminated Water Discharge.”This lawsuit, filed by local environmental and civic groups including the Busan Environmental Movement Federation, against TEPCO, was an appeal against a lower court decision made in August last year, ahead of the Japanese government’s planned release of contaminated water from the nuclear power plant.The groups have argued based on the international treaty, the London Convention, adopted for the purpose of prohibiting the dumping of nuclear waste, that TEPCO should not discharge contaminated water into the sea. However, the appellate court did not accept this argument.TEPCO claims that the water is treated by the ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) and only a very small amount reaches the waters near South Korea.TEPCO also refuted the plaintiffs’ argument that the treaty they cited as evidence only regulates the rights, obligations, dispute resolution procedures, and methods between contracting parties and does not stipulate that legal relations between citizens of different countries should be resolved by the courts of that country.Previously, the lower court dismissed the case, stating that the London Protocol and the Vienna Convention do not apply because they do not allow the exercise of jurisdiction by the judicial authorities of a specific country.After the ruling, the Busan Environmental Movement Federation held a press conference in front of the court and stated, “The court’s decision is an act that betrays the sovereignty, life, and safety of the Republic of Korea. It is a serious issue that cannot be ignored as it affects the lives of our citizens. We plan to file an appeal and will hold them accountable until the end.”Meanwhile, TEPCO completed the seventh ocean discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on the 16th.aseo@news1.kr