Jeju Island, All Seafood Radiation Tests Passed This Year

5 Cases in Production Stage and 12 Cases in Distribution Stage of Seafood Radiation Inspection Passed

Onnuri Gift Certificate Refund Event and Seafood Discount Event Continue to be Promoted

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 5th that all radioactive tests on seafood at the production and distribution stages, conducted to alleviate residents' concerns and minimize damage to fishermen in response to the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, have all been deemed suitable.

The radioactive tests on seafood at the production stage1) conducted from January 1 to February 2 totaled 5 cases (5 cases accumulated this year), and all results met the standards.

During the same period, radioactive tests on seafood at the distribution stage2) totaled 12 cases (12 cases accumulated this year), all of which were also deemed suitable.

Jeju Province is strengthening its crisis management system by expanding radioactive testing and disclosing test results through its website, making every effort to alleviate residents' anxiety and ensure the safety and reliability of seafood.

On October 31 last year, the entire Jeju area was designated as a "Seafood Safety Management Village," and since then, 163 radioactive tests have been conducted, all of which passed.

With the holiday season approaching, when seafood consumption increases, special guidance and crackdowns on false or misleading origin labeling are being promoted to prevent cases where imported foreign seafood is disguised and sold as domestic seafood in traditional markets, seafood wholesale and retail stores, and restaurants for ancestral rites and gifts. This includes special monitoring of seafood suspected of false origin labeling and Japanese imported seafood.

Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, from the 2nd to the 8th, Jeju Province is conducting a "Lunar New Year Onnuri Gift Certificate Refund Event" at three traditional markets in the province (Jeju Dongmun Market, Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market, Jeju Folk Five-Day Market) to stabilize seafood prices, promote consumption, and revitalize consumer sentiment.

In particular, starting from this refund event, the operation has been expanded to include Jeju Folk Five-Day Market so that more consumers and small business owners can benefit.

For popular fish species favored by residents such as mackerel and tilefish, as well as domestic seafood purchased for Lunar New Year ancestral rites and gifts, refunds of up to 30% of the purchase amount will be provided. For purchases under 68,000 KRW, a 10,000 KRW Onnuri Gift Certificate refund will be given, and for domestic seafood purchases over 68,000 KRW, a 20,000 KRW Onnuri Gift Certificate refund will be provided.

Most of the fisheries cooperatives in the province are also independently conducting discount events of up to 20% on seafood (including processed products) by item for this Lunar New Year, leading efforts to promote seafood consumption and revitalize consumer sentiment.

Jeong Jae-cheol, Director of the Jeju Province Ocean and Fisheries Bureau, said, "Through the Onnuri Gift Certificate refund and seafood discount events, we will widely promote the safe seafood of clean Jeju to consumers and make every effort to minimize damage to fishermen and small business owners."

The government stated, "We are continuously monitoring data from the sea area near Fukushima announced by the Japanese government," and added, "We will continue to provide updates through briefings on the confirmed data."

Jeju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won baekok@asiae.co.kr

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