欧美文化:S. Korean opposition lawmakers depart for Japan to protest at Fukushima wastewater discharge

SEOUL, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A group of South Korean opposition lawmakers on Monday departed for Japan to protest at its planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

Nine lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party and two liberal independents flew to Japan earlier in the day for a three-day trip, according to the Democratic Party.

The lawmakers were quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying at the airport before their departure that they would meet with politicians, experts and civic activists in Japan to strengthen their solidarity struggle and promote South Korea's opposition to the nuclear-contaminated water release through the global media.

They vowed to do their best to prevent the Fukushima wastewater discharge through international cooperation.

After arriving in Tokyo, the lawmakers held a protest rally in front of the official residence of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in cooperation with Japanese civic activists, according to the Democratic Party.

The South Korean lawmakers planned to make a protest visit to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regional Office in Tokyo and hold a sit-in protest in front of the National Diet of Japan.

They planned to announce a joint statement on Tuesday with a group of Japanese lawmakers opposing the release plan and hold a press conference with foreign media outlets in Japan and a protest march on Wednesday.