- Hosting a city and provincial council to discuss strategies on the safe management of beaches and seafood on June 14th (Wed) -

  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Cho Seung Hwan) will be hosting a city and provincial council on June 14th (Wed) to check on the readiness of beach reopening timelines and seafood management initiatives and to discuss safety management measures.

 As this is the first summer vacation season since COVID-19, there are heightened expectations of an increased number of beach goers with increased consumption of seafood at nearby commercial areas. Vice Minister Song Sang-Geun will be chairing the council meeting in person to thoroughly monitor readiness for the re-opening of beaches for the summer season and seafood safety management plans.

  In particular, the meeting will discuss responses and plans for securing the safety of beaches and seafood in relation to the contaminated waters of Fukushima. First, the meeting will reiterate that the results of the periodic radioactivity concentration survey around domestic coastal areas (52 locations) are similar to those before the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011 and that there has not been a single instance of failed radioactivity testing for seafood in its harvest stage since the accident to date. The meeting will also reassure the people of Korea that there are no issues regarding the re-opening of beaches and seafood safety management this summer based on the results from contaminated water spread simulations, and will actively promote the provision of accurate information to alleviate public concerns that may arise out of unnecessary spread of speculation.

  Vice Minister Song Sang-Geun will explain that “No issues are expected to arise relating to the safe use of beaches and consumption of seafood this year as the radioactivity concentration levels in the coastal areas of Korea are maintained at similar levels to those before the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant acccident. Moreover, we plan to continue to increase the number of radioactivity tests for seafood products.” The Vice Minister will also request that “regional governments actively respond to the spead of inaccurate information regarding the contaminated waters of Fukushima so as to prevent losses to businesses at beachside areas and the fisheries sector as a whole.”