One Month After Japan's Contaminated Water Discharge... Noryangjin Fish Market Bustling Ahead of Chuseok [Report]

Noryangjin Fish Market Visit Vehicles Increase from 6,000 to 8,000
Many Customers for Ancestral Ritual Supplies... Live Fish Sashimi Crowded in the Evening
Thoughts on Contaminated Water Vary Among Customers

"Put in a little more." "I put in a lot, hahaha."

At 1 p.m. on the 22nd, I visited Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. A brief scuffle occurred between a vendor preparing and packaging skate and a customer with permed hair. The vendor, trying to soothe the customer, laughed it off cheerfully. The market, which had been deserted around the time of the contaminated water discharge news, was lively once again. An elderly couple was inspecting various aquariums, each holding a Styrofoam box tied with twine in one hand. A middle-aged female vendor was busily slicing frozen pollack fillets and placing them into Styrofoam lunch trays. The knife, worn thin from frequent sharpening, sliced through the fillets with just a light touch.

Around 2 p.m. on the 22nd at Noryangjin Fish Market in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. A vendor is packaging seafood to hand over to a customer. Behind him, customers are lined up waiting to make their purchases.
Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

The vendors were busy preparing for the Chuseok holiday rush. Vendor Im (57, female) was also sitting on a chair in front of a long cutting board, slicing frozen pollack fillets. Large Styrofoam boxes were stacked in layers on both sides. Im said she had started work at 1 a.m. that day. "Normally, I start work around 2 to 3 a.m., but with the increased volume before Chuseok, I came in earlier," she said, glancing at the clock. "I'm about to finish work soon," she added while slicing the fillets. According to the Noryangjin Fisheries Cooperative, the number of vehicles visiting the market sharply increased since the end of August. On August 12, 5,876 vehicles entered, rising to 6,255 on the 19th, and reaching 8,390 on the 26th. This weekly Saturday count has remained above 8,000 vehicles through to the 16th of this month (8,281 vehicles).

The live fish sashimi section showed a slightly different scene during the daytime in the week before Chuseok. Vendors were calmly waiting for customers or enjoying lunch without appearing busy. Occasionally, they served foreign tourists. However, the vendors expressed anticipation for the Chuseok sales boost. Vendor Kim (47, male) said, "The week before Chuseok is more about ritual food ingredients than live fish sashimi. We are expecting business to pick up on the day before or the day of the holiday." Another live fish sashimi vendor Kim (52, male) also said, "People tend to come in larger numbers only on the holiday itself."

At 6:33 PM on the 22nd, live fish sashimi shop merchants are busy slicing sashimi ingredients. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

However, Friday evening was the prime time for the live fish sashimi section. Around 6 p.m., friends and colleagues gathering ahead of Chuseok visited the market, and the sashimi shops were busy preparing fresh fish. One sashimi restaurant on the second floor was already packed with customers. Most were in their 20s to 40s carrying briefcases, but ages ranged up to 70. Oh Hyeryeong (69, female) said, "I came out to eat crab with friends before Chuseok."

Since the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant on the 24th of last month, Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market has been making strenuous efforts to ease customers' concerns. Next to the escalator leading to the second floor, a banner with a QR code containing 'Seafood Safety Information' was displayed. On that day, 28 domestic and imported seafood items were tested, all passing radiation safety inspections.

Around 1 p.m., the area in front of the Suhyup on the 2nd floor of Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market was bustling with customers lining up to receive refunds for Onnuri gift certificates. Photo by Hwang Seoyul

The Onnuri gift certificate refund campaign conducted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Fisheries Association also contributed. Since the 31st of last month, Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market has been refunding 10,000 won in gift certificates for purchases of 25,000 won or more, and 20,000 won for purchases of 50,000 won or more, on processed products made with at least 70% domestic or distant-water seafood. The line waiting for the refund event, which starts at 1 p.m. on weekdays, was so long it bent two or three times. Kim Isun (71, female), who bought squid, skate, and frozen pollack fillets with a friend, said, "I waited 40 minutes to get the refund," putting the gift certificate in her pocket.

However, reactions to the contaminated water varied among customers buying seafood. Kim Eunja (71, female), who visited with her husband and bought flounder and mackerel, said, "I trust it's okay and have been eating seafood steadily even after the contaminated water discharge." She added, "If I thought about it too much, I wouldn't be able to buy seafood." Kim Chunja (59, female) also said, "I think there are more dangerous things than that (radioactive contaminated water discharge)." On the other hand, Yoon Sunok (67, female) said, "It's still early, so I think it's been okay so far, so I eat it, but I am equally worried."

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