[The Hwankyung Ilbo] In July, the IAEA formed a team of experts to inspect the release of contaminated water from the nuclear power plant at Fukushima.

Dr. Kim Hong-seok, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and Technology, and an adjunct professor at KAIST's Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, will participate as a representative expert from South Korea. 

Dr. Kim Hong-seok, who will participate as a representative of Korea, is an expert on nuclear safety and currently serves as a senior representative of the UN Radiological Impact Science Committee (UNSCEAR), and has an authority on analyzing and evaluating highly recognized radioactive materials at home and abroad. 

With the participation of our experts in the IAEA International Verification Team, the government has secured minimum safeguards to protect the safety of our people through direct and indirect verification in case of Japan's push for the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant.

In addition, the government said, "We will do our best to ensure that the entire process of treating contaminated water can be verified objectively and practically through the participation of the IAEA International Verification Team in the future."

In April, the Korean government expressed serious regret over the Japanese government's decision to release contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant, not only posing a risk to the safety and marine environment of neighboring countries, but also without sufficient consultation and understanding. 

The IAEA and other international communities have also expressed our government's concerns over the Japanese government's decision to release contaminated water from nuclear power plants, and called for transparent information and international verification.

The government said, "We will do our best to solve the problem of contaminated water at Fukushima nuclear power plant with the top priority of public health and safety and will not compromise any measures that could harm the health of our people."

In addition, measures to monitor the sea and secure fisheries products and food safety will be carried out without any disruptions to prevent public safety concerns.

To this end, the government is increasing the peak and frequency of investigations to strengthen the nation's coastal radioactive material monitoring system, while expanding radioactivity testing time for imported marine products, inspecting and checking their origin and history.

The government said, "Since the issue of contaminated water at nuclear power plants is related to the marine environment and fisheries safety around the world, we will do our best to protect the safety of our seas and the health of our people by working closely with the international community."