Korean Fishermen v. Japan (Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater Discharge Lawsuit)

In August 2023, the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. In response, South Korean fisheries cooperatives and individual fishermen filed a damages lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court (Case No. Reiwa 5 (Wa) 12652). The plaintiffs argue that the discharge endangers marine ecosystems, devastates their fishing livelihoods, and violates international environmental obligations. They seek an injunction to halt the release and monetary compensation for economic losses. The defendants maintain that the treated water meets international safety standards and is endorsed by the IAEA. The lawsuit represents a high-profile transnational environmental tort claim, and as of 2025, hearings continue.

The case remains pending before the Tokyo District Court as of 2025; no final judgment has been issued.

Whether the discharge of ALPS-treated nuclear wastewater by Japan violates international law and causes compensable harm to Korean fishermen; whether the Japanese government and TEPCO bear liability for environmental damage and economic losses.

The lawsuit has intensified public and diplomatic friction between Japan and South Korea, galvanizing regional protests and boycott movements against Japanese seafood. It has drawn global attention to the safety of the Fukushima discharge, prompted monitoring by neighboring states, and set a precedent for cross-border environmental litigation in East Asia.