“If It’s Safe, Then Use It as Drinking Water” Lee Jae-myung Responds to Japan’s Claims that Contaminated Water from Fukushima Is Safe

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung makes a stern face during a meeting of the party’s Supreme Council at the National Assembly on May 15. Bak Min-gyu, Senior Reporter

On May 15, Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung spoke on Japan’s insistence that the contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was safe and said, “If it’s safe enough to drink, then they can use it as drinking water.”

Lee made the remark in a meeting of the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council at the National Assembly Monday, after saying, “When neighboring countries argue that it’s not safe, that it’s dangerous, then instead of stubbornly clinging to their argument, they can prove it themselves.”

Lee continued and said, “Our government should not be shaken by their (Japan’s) stubborn argument and trick the people by distorting and manipulating fact by referring to the contaminated water as treated water.” Lee argued that the government should confront Japan and clearly make demands. He said, “If it is safe, then even if they don’t drink it, we should be able to tell them, ‘It would be right to reuse it for agricultural or industrial purposes. Why don’t you do that?’ I think this is the reasonable attitude of the president of the Republic of Korea, the government of the Republic of Korea.”

Lee also mentioned how many of the party’s legislators expressed their opinions in the general meeting of lawmakers Sunday (May 14) and described how the Democratic Party members and supporters sought innovation and reform in the party. He said, “We will respect the will of the people, party supporters and party members to promote powerful innovations in the future.”