Deputy Minister of Oceans and Fisheries: "Will Ensure No Harm to Fishermen and Fisheries Workers as First Mission"

Park Seong-hoon, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated on the 20th, "Our primary mission is to ensure that fishermen and those involved in the fisheries industry suffer no harm from the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima."

At a press conference held at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press room that day, Vice Minister Park said, "I believe the most important task is to ensure that there are no concerns about the health and safety of the public and to provide reassurance."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, "The conclusion regarding the response to the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water is a battle between science and superstition," emphasizing, "I believe that reason can overcome emotion after the scientific revolution." He also noted, "Seafood consumption may shrink due to facts not based on science," and "We are preparing various countermeasures in response to this."

When asked whether the Japanese government had notified them of the exact timing of the contaminated water discharge, he replied, "We have not heard yet. We will inform the public first once we obtain information on the discharge timing or related details through various diplomatic channels, including director-level consultations."

Regarding criticism that our government relies on limited data from Japan, he explained, "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has 176 member countries, and not all share Japan's position," adding, "Various countries participate in sample collection and monitoring, so if we cannot trust the IAEA, there would be no place that can guarantee objectivity."

Regarding the plan to release solar salt amid concerns about contaminated water discharge, he stated, "From the 21st until the 8th of next month, 400 tons of government stockpiled solar salt will be released," and "The daily release amount will be around 50 tons, considering sales conditions."

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