Rising Concerns Over Fukushima Discharge... Temporary Surge in Demand for Seafood and Salt

Lotte Mart Reports 10% Increase in Seafood Sales
Concerns Over Sales Impact from Release Timing
Distribution, Food, and Catering Industries Seek Self-Help Measures
Criticism of Insufficient Government-Level Countermeasures

Office worker Kim Seong-gwon (33) has recently been eating seafood such as sashimi and sushi frequently. This is because he thought he should eat a lot before the coastal discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan begins. Kim said, "Whether it is actually safe or not can only be known later. If the discharge happens, I will not eat seafood for a while," adding, "I do not accept the government's explanation that there is no problem."

A customer is purchasing products at the seafood section of E-Mart.
[Photo by E-Mart]

As concerns about contaminated water from Fukushima in Japan have grown recently, consumption of seafood and salt has increased in large supermarkets. It is analyzed that consumers temporarily increased their seafood intake before the contaminated water discharge and also tried to purchase salt in advance, resulting in this trend.

According to Lotte Mart on the 26th, total seafood sales from the 1st to the 21st of this month rose by 5% compared to the previous year and by 10% compared to the previous month. Sashimi and sushi sales were similar to last year and last month or increased by about 5%. At Homeplus, seafood sales were similar to the previous year and increased by 4% compared to the previous month. At E-Mart, sales of seafood, sashimi, and sushi remained steady.

Demand for salt surged sharply, causing prices to soar. At E-Mart, salt sales increased by 89.8% compared to the previous month, and solar salt sales rose by 136.3%. At Lotte Mart, salt sales jumped 80% compared to last month, and at Homeplus, they soared by 200%. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), as of the 23rd, the retail price of coarse salt was 14,562 KRW for 5 kg, which is 29.7% higher than 11,224 KRW a year ago and 83.2% higher than the average price of 7,946 KRW.

Due to an unexpected salt shortage, large supermarkets have taken measures to secure supply and limit purchases. E-Mart is stocking 3 to 4 times more than usual daily at stores and has imposed a purchase limit of two items per person for large packages over 1 kg. At Lotte Mart, the purchase limit is one item per person only for solar salt products, and at Homeplus, the limit applies to all salt products.

The distribution industry widely expects that seafood sales will be directly hit once the contaminated water discharge begins. When the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water leakage accident occurred in 2013, domestic seafood production and sales decreased by about 460 billion KRW compared to the previous year. A representative from a large supermarket explained, "Salt demand is partly due to stockpiling ahead of the kimchi-making season this year," adding, "We expect a significant impact on seafood sales when the contaminated water discharge starts."

The distribution industry has started to devise measures to alleviate consumer anxiety. Lotte Department Store has introduced radiation measuring devices in seafood stores nationwide to conduct thorough inspections of products. Shinsegae Department Store has secured domestic stocks of dried yellow corvina, hairtail, and tilefish in advance and is diversifying import sources to the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Hyundai Department Store equips each store with portable radiation detectors to conduct safety inspections. E-Mart has established a radiation safety management system and is increasing the number of inspections at each response stage. Before product entry, a simple radiation test is conducted at the logistics center, followed by a detailed radiation inspection with precision instruments at the product safety center the next day. Lotte Mart has expanded seafood safety inspections at the Lotte Safety Center from once quarterly to four times a week for samples from major ports and plans to increase inspection frequency when the discharge occurs. Homeplus plans to conduct its own radiation inspections at logistics centers starting in the second half of the year.

The food industry and catering companies have also taken proactive measures. Dongwon has doubled the number of radiation inspection items for raw materials and finished products and strengthened inspection cycles to once a month or quarterly. In addition to the internal food safety center, which is a certified institution, external certified institutions conduct additional radiation inspections. Ourhome completed radiation inspections for all general seafood items in April and plans to conduct additional tests. For frozen fish such as flatfish, Spanish mackerel, and mackerel, they have secured stockpiles that can be used for at least four months. CJ Freshway is focusing on securing alternative products from the North Atlantic and other offshore sources for popular domestic fish species for the time being.

Criticism has also emerged that the government and ruling party's efforts to alleviate public anxiety and implement practical measures are insufficient. Experts have also voiced the need for concrete government-level measures that can reassure the public. Professor Lee Eun-hee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies said, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' affiliated research institutes should conduct radiation inspections on seafood from all sales outlets so that consumers can purchase with confidence. They should also measure contamination levels in the sea and inform the public like fine dust alerts," adding, "The government lacks concrete measures, and the political sphere is only creating anxiety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.