Hundreds of people gathered to protest in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, as Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in the country in an effort to calm fears over Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive water from its tsunami-hit Fukushima plant.
“They say there are only a few risks possible, but what if that really happens and who’s going to be responsible for that?” said Han Sang-Jin, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions spokesperson.
The IAEA, which serves as the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, said earlier in the week that a two-year review showed Japan's plans for the water release would have a negligible impact on the environment.
On Sunday, Grossi is set to meet with members of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which has been critical of the Japanese plan.
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During his visit to South Korea from July 8 to 9, the IAEA chief Grossi was greeted by people's fierce protests. People followed him wherever he goes and shouted slogans, "Go Out, Grossi!," as well as "Did you leak the draft for 1 million euros?"
Grossi was supposed to enter Korea on July 7 but was stranded at the airport for hours thanks to protestors. He could barely leave the airport after midnight. Today, July 9th, he visited the National assembly but protestors' shouts were loudly heard even inside the National assembly room where he met the opposition party members. And there were many small and big protests in South Korea yesterday and today.
He left for New Zealand this evening. Discharge of nuclear-contaminated water will be the end of Earth. We, the people in the Pacific and the world should not allow it.
Thank you.
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