South Korea vouches for safety of plans to release Fukushima wastewater but citizens’ fears persist

By KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s government has formally endorsed the safety of Japanese plans to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The assessment from Seoul released on Friday was based on a 22-month review by government-funded scientists and aligns with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s views. The agency greenlit the Japanese discharge plans this week, saying the treated wastewater would meet international safety standards and cause negligible environmental and health impacts. But public fears of possible food contamination persist. Retailers in South Korea report an increase in sea salt sales ahead of the wastewater release. Opposition lawmakers have vowed an all-out fight against the discharge plans.