Chungnam Strengthens Real-Time Monitoring in Response to Japan's Contaminated Water Discharge

Chungnam Province will strengthen the radiation monitoring system for seawater and seafood in response to Japan's Fukushima contaminated water discharge.

Governor Kim Tae-heum of Chungnam Province is holding a press conference on the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima at the Chungnam Provincial Office on the 24th. Photo by Chungnam Province

On the 24th, Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum held a press conference at the Chungnam Provincial Government Office to announce these countermeasures.

According to the countermeasures, Chungnam Province will first establish a 'Contaminated Water Discharge Response TF' with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and begin real-time monitoring.

The TF will be composed of five teams: ▲General Support Team ▲Seafood Safety Response Team ▲Fishermen Support Team ▲Seafood Distribution Management Team ▲School Meal Ingredient Management Team. The head of the TF will be the Director of the Chungnam Marine and Fisheries Bureau, with participation from the Nuclear Environment Office of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and the Climate Change Response Research Center of the Chungnam Research Institute.

The TF's activities will focus on measuring radiation in the waters of Chungnam and disclosing information, investigating the safety of seafood at production stages such as auction sites and fish farms, conducting radiation tests on seafood and publishing the results, strengthening origin labeling enforcement on imported Japanese seafood, collecting and inspecting radiation in distributed food products, and conducting detailed radiation inspections on ingredients supplied for school meals.

Governor Kim emphasized, “Following the existing fisheries guidance vessel (Chungnam Marine), we will additionally install radiation detectors on the environmental cleanup vessel (Neulpureun Chungnam) to ensure seamless monitoring across all waters within Chungnam.”

The radiation detector installed on the existing Chungnam Marine vessel is equipment developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. It operates on the principle of measuring seawater used as cooling water every minute by connecting to the cooling water supply line in the ship's engine room whenever the ship is in operation.

Governor Kim also stated, “The results of radiation tests on seawater and seafood will be provided in real-time every week through the Chungnam Province website and electronic display boards in cities and counties.”

He added, “Chungnam Province plans to promote the consumption of local seafood through public campaigns, special discount events, and expansion of sales channels. We will strictly respond to unscientific fake news that unnecessarily stirs public anxiety and divides national opinion.”

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