Analyzing the Factors Contradicting Public Opinion and Governmental Decision-Making in the Attitudes of South Korea towards Japan’s Nuclear Contaminated Water

Abstract

In August 2023, Japan began to discharge a pile of nuclear contaminated water into the sea, which is very harmful to the environment and ecology as well as human health. South Korea, as one of Japan’s closest neighbours and also the most affected by nuclear-contaminated water, the public broke out in large-scale protests and marches in many places, and was strongly condemned by the opposition party. However, the Korean government also ignored domestic public opinion and the demands of the opposition parties this time and insisted on supporting the Japanese government’s behaviour. This paper analyses and compares the conflict between the Korean government and the public, Korean parties, and the international situation through this crisis. The study found that with the polarisation of the Korean political scene and the tension of the international situation, the two-party conflict at home, the international conflict between the two poles against the confrontation led by China, Russia and the United States, the two pairs of major contradictions are gradually severe, in which the interests of the involvement of the authorities and the regime of strife to the extent that the South Korean government authorities to ignore public opinion brought about by the negative impacts of the public opinion, so it chose to focus on stabilizing the situation at home and abroad to stabilize and consolidate the power. Understanding these factors is essential in comprehending the complexities and contradictions between public opinion and governmental decision-making.