Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, "We Will Do Our Best for Residents' Safety and Revitalization of the Fisheries Industry"

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, met with representatives from the fisheries industry in a small conference room at the provincial government office on the 29th.

Gyeongnam Province announced that it held a communication meeting to address the difficulties and current issues faced by the fisheries industry due to the recent discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan into the ocean.

The meeting was attended by Governor Park, Kim Tae-hyung, President of the Korea Fisheries Management Association Gyeongnam Branch, Ji Hong-tae, Head of the Save Our Seafood Movement Headquarters, Choi Pil-jong, Head of the Anchovy Purse Seine Fishery Cooperative, Lee Hyun-jin, President of the Gyeongnam Young Fishermen's Association, and Shim Myung-seop, President of the Masan Fish Market Merchants Association.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is discussing Gyeongnam Province's measures regarding the impact of the ocean discharge of nuclear power plant contaminated water at a meeting with fisheries industry officials.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Governor Park listened to the participants' grievances and concerns about the decline in seafood consumption and explained Gyeongnam Province's measures to overcome these challenges, urging active cooperation from the fisheries industry.

He said, "There should be no unfounded rumors causing a decline in seafood consumption or making residents anxious."

He added, "The province and the government will do their best to ensure residents' safety and revitalize the fisheries industry," and urged, "The fisheries industry should actively participate in government policies and do their utmost to supply high-quality and safe seafood."

Participants of the fisheries industry communication meeting to strengthen residents' safety are taking a commemorative photo with Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (center).
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

On the 24th, Gyeongnam Province formed a joint emergency situation room with city and county governments to alleviate residents' concerns about the Fukushima contaminated water discharge, expanding radiation monitoring points, conducting origin inspections, and providing damage support.

The number of radiation tests on seafood at the production stage has been increased from 20 to 40 per week, and radiation inspection events with resident observers have been expanded from once a month to once a week.

Radiation tests are conducted before distribution at six representative auction sites in the province: Tongyeong Fishery Cooperative (headquarters), Geoje Fishery Cooperative (Jangseungpo), Samcheonpo Fishery Cooperative (fresh fish), Namhae County Fishery Cooperative (fresh fish), Anchovy Purse Seine Fishery Cooperative, and Oyster Cultivation Fishery Cooperative.

From the 28th until December 5th, special inspections of origin labeling are being conducted at 1,334 locations handling imported seafood and restaurants.

To promote seafood consumption, discount sales events are being organized with online and offline seafood distributors, and projects to expand seafood supply to corporate cafeterias in collaboration with large companies and industries are underway.

To prepare for a sudden downturn in the fisheries economy, a proposal has been made to designate the area as an industrial crisis preemptive response zone. Currently, a special law amendment is under review in the National Assembly, and related notification revisions will be proposed to the government.