Why Did Seongdong-gu Support Radiation Detectors for School Cafeterias?

Published 10 Apr.2023 14:56(KST)

Support of Radiation Detectors in a Total of 35 School Cafeterias Nationwide for the First Time Amid Concerns over Fukushima Nuclear Plant Accident Contaminated Water Discharge

Education Expenses Support of 8.5 Billion KRW, Increased by 500 Million KRW from Last Year, for Improvement of School Facilities and Educational Environment

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is providing radiation detectors in school cafeterias for the first time nationwide amid growing concerns over seafood contamination caused by the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan.

According to the ordinance enacted in February 2022, titled "Support for the Use of Safe Ingredients Free from Radiation and Other Harmful Substances in School Meals in Seongdong-gu, Seoul," the local government is the first in the nation to support radiation detectors in school cafeterias, actively responding to food safety.

Separate from the annual radiation inspection of school meal ingredients conducted by the education office, the detectors were provided to enable schools to conduct rapid testing on their own. Currently, out of 55 cafeterias, 35 schools have been supported, achieving a distribution rate of 63.6%. After supporting 25 schools based on the first demand survey in 2021, an additional 10 schools were supported this year.

A scene of checking the radioactivity of ingredients using a radiation detector supported by Seongdong-gu

Additionally, the district requested the Seongdong-Gwangjin Education Support Office to provide education on "Safe Management of Ingredients from Radiation" for cafeteria workers and is encouraging active use of radiation detectors in schools that possess them. Going forward, the district plans to promptly support schools without radiation detectors upon request.

Seongdong-gu is supporting education expenses worth 8.5 billion KRW, an increase of 500 million KRW from last year, to foster future talents and strengthen public education competitiveness, carrying out improvements in school facilities and educational environments.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "Parents’ anxiety remains high even now after the nuclear accident in Japan. The safety of students’ food must be prioritized above all else, and we will continue to thoroughly oversee to provide safer and higher-quality school meals."