In March of 2011, a massive tsunami swallowed Tohoku, Japan. Even though earthquakes and tsunamis were frequent in the region, they were different from those in the past. The second-tallest tsunami recorded in Japanese history submerged 561 km² of their land. The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant was also damaged. It recalled the worst nightmare of Japan. Three explosions at the power plant contaminated the area and the ocean. A high concentration of cesium-134, a radioactive material, was found even on the Oregon Coast a few years later. The damage it caused to Japan was obviously worse. The power plant was heated up to over 2100°F. The Japanese government later put a great amount of seawater to cool down the power plant. However, the slow action prevented them from lessening the damage. It shocked the world and became a notable example that alerts to the dangers of nuclear power.
As time passed, the incident gradually faded from people’s memories. But billions again put their attention on it in the summer of 2023. It was followed by the Japanese government’s action of releasing the water used to cool the plant. It was a decision made to reduce the amount of money needed to keep millions of tons of water in the water tanks. Political organizations and parties from nearby countries, primarily South Korea and China, have officially criticized Japan’s act. They claimed that the water would contaminate their ocean and, further, the entire Pacific Ocean. The Korean Democratic Party even said they should impeach the Korean President, Yoon, because he wasn’t stopping the action of Japan. Regardless of their protest, the water was released. However, there was no significant impact after it. The Korean government inspection team examined the state of ocean contamination nearly 50,000 times, but there was absolutely no consequence when the radiation level exceeded the standard. Korean President Yoon and his administration proposed that 1.6 trillion won from the government budget was wasted solely due to the inspection. The public often misunderstands nuclear power, yet it is utilized by many. It is the secret of this unbelievable discrepancy between concern and outcome.
If it seemed thorough, the water discharge couldn’t have been criticized at all. When the power plants exploded, the nuclear water, which had not been purified, was released, whereas it had been purified in 2023. Even the discharge of untreated water did not severely impact the ocean. In the Statesman Journal, Woods Hall Chemical Oceanographer, Ken Buesseler, states that “Even that peak won’t be a health concern…”. If the untreated water didn’t have a notable impact, how would treated water contaminated the entire Pacific Ocean? The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found Japan’s approach to discharging the treated water to be consistent with international safety standards in its report. However, the Korean Democratic Party claimed that the IAEA’s report drew a poor conclusion, only reflecting the Japanese claim. Korean News Outlets produced articles only based on the Democratic Party’s perspective. News channels criticized scientists who supported the discharge of water. It was madness that people believed politicians, not scientists. It occurred due to citizens’ misunderstandings about nuclear power and vague fears associated with it. We must be well-informed about nuclear energy, not to be misled by politicians and step into the madness.
People have many misconceptions about nuclear. First of all, nuclear plants are safer than most other energy sources. According to Our World in Data, the deaths per terawatt-hour of nuclear energy are 0.03, while those of brown coal and gas are 32.72 and 18.43, respectively. Even hydropower and wind have 1.3 and 0.04, respectively. It is contradictory to the common belief that nuclear is the most dangerous energy source. Additionally, nuclear power plants emit less carbon dioxide than other types of energy sources. According to the World Nuclear Association, a nuclear power plant emits 12 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour, while a roof solar PV system emits 41 grams and coal emits 820 grams of carbon dioxide when providing the same amount of energy. It contradicts the common belief that nuclear energy has a harmful effect on the environment.
Activists and the news use these wrong concepts as their weapon to stop the construction of the nuclear power plant, or even cause diplomatic conflict. The incident in Korea is an extreme example of the unreasonable fear of nuclear energy. As the entire country was worried that they would be exposed to nuclear radiation, Korean news channels made huge profits through news about the discharge of radioactive water. It is a modern Yellow Journalism. The responsibility for the Yellow Journalism isn’t bound to left-wing journalists and politicians. Right-wing politicians and journalists in Korea also tried to use the fear of the people toward nuclear power. In the summer of 2025, right-wing politicians of the People’s Power Party and conservative journalists claimed that nuclear waste from North Korea contaminated the Han River of Korea, and it would harm Koreans. Even though there was nuclear waste coming out from a North Korean factory, it wasn’t strong enough to impact people. It was, again, a deception against people.
The unreasonable protest over the Japanese treated water discharge sounds so far
away. However, this isn’t just an issue in the world over the Pacific Ocean. In September of this year, environmental activists protested in Syracuse, NY, to halt the plan to build a nuclear power plant in upstate New York. It is absurd that environmental activists protest against the energy, which is the most environmentally friendly. It can happen anywhere in the world. To stop it, Individuals should be aware of the hidden truth about nuclear energy.
