"Seafood Safety, Government Guarantee"... Discussion on Measures for the Food Service Industry

Sung Il-jong "Summer Vacation with Family in Fishing Village"
Korea Foodservice Industry Association Issues Public Appeal

On the 12th, the People Power Party and the government emphasized the safety of domestic seafood and urged the public to consume it.

Seong Il-jong, chairman of the People Power Party’s Our Sea Protection Task Force (TF), said to reporters after the ‘Meeting on Measures for the Food Service and Food Industry’ held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, “Our seas are clean and safe, and our seafood is also safe,” adding, “The government guarantees it.”

On the 12th, Seong Il-jong, the TF chairman, is speaking at the meeting on protection measures for the food service and food industries held by the People Power Party's Our Sea Protection Verification TF at the National Assembly. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Chairman Seong continued, “The discharge of Fukushima contaminated water has not yet occurred, and even if it does, it will come in about 4 to 5 years,” emphasizing, “I would appreciate it if people could feel reassured, support the fishermen who are going through difficulties, and create memories with their families in fishing villages during the summer vacation.”

The meeting was held to hear the voices of fishermen, the food service industry, and the food industry, who are facing a crisis due to reduced consumption amid concerns over Fukushima contaminated water. From the government, Han Hoon, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Park Sung-hoon, Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, attended. From related industries, Kim Seong-ho, President of the Korea Fisheries Management Association Central Federation, Kim Dae-sung, President of the Korea Coastal Fishermen Central Federation, Kim Tae-ryong, Executive Director of Nonghyup Distribution, and Jang Woong-jun, Managing Director of the Food Distribution Association, were present.

Chairman Seong said, “There is a great deal of concern about rumors, which has led to a contraction in seafood consumption, causing damage to both producers and consumers,” adding, “Today, everyone involved in production and consumption expressed a request that the party and government expose the scientific facts and alleviate public anxiety.”

Discussions about support measures for fishermen were also revealed. Chairman Seong stated, “The government and the party will carefully review ways to support fishermen in the future to help alleviate the difficulties they are experiencing.”

However, no specific support measures were mentioned. Chairman Seong explained, “Including the budget, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture will take the lead in reviewing various support measures,” adding, “The party has conveyed the voices of fishermen and the field, and the government will announce the timing of the measures.”

The Korea Foodservice Industry Association, which attended the meeting, also issued a public appeal. The association said, “According to a sample survey of 260 seafood-related foodservice establishments nationwide, sales in June, when rumors began to spread in earnest, plummeted by 15.9% in general raw fish restaurants and by more than 16.6% in Japanese restaurants compared to the previous month. Since July, this phenomenon has worsened,” adding, “More than 90,000 seafood-related establishments nationwide are suffering sales declines, and over 270,000 related workers are living each day in anxiety over the risk of losing their jobs.”

Furthermore, the Foodservice Industry Association appealed, “Was the previous government’s inspection of Japanese seafood not scientific? Is science that changes depending on the administration political science?” and urged, “We ask that political disputes that put the livelihoods of small business owners at risk be stopped immediately.”

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