Controversy grows as fisheries ministry stresses safety of seafood, salt, beaches

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, October 1, 2023 | 02:22

Health & Science

Controversy grows as fisheries ministry stresses safety of seafood, salt, beaches

Posted : 2023-06-06 14:38

Updated : 2023-06-07 14:32

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan, right, promotes seafood at E-mart's Jukjeon branch in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

By Park Jae-hyuk

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is facing a growing controversy over its recent attempts to reassure consumers about the safety of seafood and salt, as well as beaches, ahead of the planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Under the pretext of protecting fishermen and merchants in fishing villages, the ministry has refuted claims that the wastewater will pollute Korean seas, defining such claims as groundless rumors.

Suh Kune-yull, professor emeritus of Seoul National University's Department of Nuclear Engineering / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

When Professor Emeritus Suh Kune-yull of Seoul National University's Department of Nuclear Engineering told local broadcaster YTN late last month that the wastewater could flow into the East Sea within five to seven months after the discharge begins, the ministry immediately issued a six-page press release to deny the claim.

It is unusual for the ministry to distribute such a long press release to refute an individual's claim.

"Seawater containing very small traces of tritium will flow into Korean seas around five years after the release of wastewater," the ministry said, citing simulations done by state-run research institutes.

It also denied the professor's claim that Japanese ships will exchange ballast water at Korean ports. The ministry emphasized that the ships can exchange ballast water in open waters and that they will not be allowed to do so in Korean seas.

Ballast water is freshwater or saltwater held in the ballast tanks and cargo holds of ships.

Based on the ministry's explanation, a group of fishermen reported Suh to the police last Friday for defamation. The ruling People Power Party also criticized the professor for causing fear among the general public by spreading groundless rumors.

The professor, however, refuted the ministry's explanation, saying that simulations done by foreign research institutes showed different results. He added that even if Japanese ships exchange ballast water in open waters, the water will flow into Korean seas.

Amid the growing controversy, Minister Cho Seung-hwan and Vice Minister Song Sang-keun have also made frequent visits to fish markets, in order to boost seafood consumption by dispelling worries over radioactive contamination.

"We will take measures to prevent the spread of false information and groundless rumors about Fukushima wastewater from harming residents and merchants," the minister said in response to concerns over the safety of beaches.

On Tuesday, the ministry also denied a news report that the panic buying of sun-dried salt before the wastewater release caused a recent spike in the price of salt. It claimed in a press release that declining salt production caused by cloudy weather was the main trigger for the price hike.

However, Korean consumers have urged the government to prioritize preventing the release of the wastewater, instead of attempting to defend Japan. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has also leveled criticism at the government and the ruling party for their responses on this issue.

"In response to growing calls for a scientific inspection of the wastewater, the ruling party claims that such a request is based on groundless rumors," DPK Rep. Ko Min-jung said.

pjh@koreatimes.co.kr