Ruling Party and Government: "Ban on Fukushima Seafood Imports Until Public Safety is Assured"

Party-Government Meeting Held at National Assembly on the 3rd
Expressing Willingness for Additional Verification of the Report

The People Power Party and the government announced on the 3rd that they will continue the ban on imports of seafood from Fukushima until the public feels assured.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a meeting with reporters after the "IAEA Verification Results Follow-up Measures Briefing" held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, "From the party's standpoint, you can believe that the import of seafood from Fukushima will be banned without any time limit until our people feel safe."

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a meeting on countermeasures for the IAEA verification results held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Yoon emphasized, "It is not about whether the period is 10, 20, 30, 50, or 100 years, but the government has a firm belief that there should be no anxiety regarding the food for our people and will prepare accordingly."

When asked, "If the IAEA issues a report stating there is no problem with the discharge of contaminated water and Japan demands the lifting of the import ban, how will you respond?" Yoon replied, "There have been discussions on that matter, but I think it is better for the government to comprehensively organize and announce its position."

Yoon added, "After the announcement, we agreed to share the necessary materials with the party by setting detailed plans for tasks each ministry must undertake. Besides the preparations by each ministry, if necessary, the government as a whole should have an opportunity to comprehensively organize the situation through relevant ministers or vice ministers," he said.

He also expressed willingness to conduct additional verification of the report. When asked if there are plans to review the report at the government or party level, Yoon emphasized, "Verification of the report at the government level after the announcement is naturally a procedure that must be followed and a task that must be done."

Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party and chair of the Our Sea Protection Verification Task Force (TF), said in his opening remarks at the briefing, "If the discharge begins, we propose conducting radiation inspections anywhere in our sea under the supervision of both parties seven months later. If radiation is not detected above the standard level, the Democratic Party must take responsibility at the party level and face public judgment."

Park Gu-yeon, First Deputy Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, explained, "The government understands the public’s concerns better than anyone else. Through consultations with the international community and Japan, we will actively promote continuous participation by our country in the monitoring process of contaminated water discharge to verify safety."

He added, "We will actively respond to prevent damage to fishermen and the fisheries industry caused by reduced consumption, continue monitoring, and devise comprehensive countermeasures."

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