[Report] Japanese Fish Market Hit Directly by Radiation... "Customers Have Already Dropped Sharply"

Visiting Noryangjin Fish Market
No Customers Due to Radiation Phobia
Large Marts Not Selling Japanese Products
Concern Over Declining Domestic Product Consumption

On the afternoon of the 13th, Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] "There have been many news reports about Japan discharging radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima. Since then, the impact has been indescribable. There are already no customers in the market."

After the Japanese government decided to discharge the Fukushima contaminated water, a 'radiation phobia' swept through Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market. The market, which had already suffered severe damage due to COVID-19, is now facing a further decline in customers due to radiation concerns. Merchants expressed both anger and sighs over the Japanese government's discharge decision.

◆ Customers vanish after Fukushima news = On the afternoon of the 13th, merchant A, met at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, vented, "Japan hasn't even started discharging yet, but rumors keep spreading everywhere, making customers anxious and stop coming." He added, "It was already tough because of COVID-19, but now it's even harder. I was hoping business would pick up this year..." and trailed off.

Throughout the afternoon, it was difficult to find customers at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market. Only seafood piled up alone in each store was waiting for customers. With no customers, merchants sat listlessly on chairs, staring at the ground. Their faces were filled with worry. Mr. B, who has been in business for 35 years, complained, "Customers are reluctant to buy Japanese products," and said, "I'm worried sales will sharply drop again like during the Fukushima nuclear accident."

The proportion of Japanese seafood sold at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market was about 3.6% as of last year. Mainly red sea bream, yellowtail, scallops, and sea bream are imported from Japan. The more radiation phobia spreads, the more merchants selling these seafood products will be directly hit.

An official from the Suhyup Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market explained, "Japanese seafood undergoes radiation inspection by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety during customs clearance, and thorough inspections are conducted during auctions at the market as well as at retail stores. Because people are very anxious, we clearly label the origin and strive to reassure consumers."

On the afternoon of the 13th, an official at the seafood section of Hanaro Mart Changdong Branch in Changdong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, is posting a notice stating that "Japanese seafood products are not sold." [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Sighs over possible decline in domestic seafood consumption = Large supermarkets announced that they have not sold Japanese seafood since 2011 as soon as news of Fukushima contaminated water discharge spread. Major department stores such as Lotte, Shinsegae, and Hyundai Department Store also stopped sales around the same time. Since the Fukushima nuclear accident, Japanese seafood has been completely replaced by domestic or imported frozen products.

However, concerns have arisen that the discharge of Fukushima radioactive contaminated water could eventually affect domestic seafood as well. A large supermarket official said, "If Japan's radioactive contaminated water discharge affects areas where domestic fish species live, it will cause significant damage."