Ganghwa Fishermen Sue YouTuber Over Claims of Radiation From North Korean Nuclear Wastewater

Over 60 Seokmodo Fishermen File Complaint
YouTuber Claims "Radiation Levels Surged Eightfold"

Fishermen in Ganghwa County, Incheon, have filed a lawsuit against a YouTuber who claimed that radiation levels exceeding safety standards were detected in the border waters due to radioactive wastewater from North Korea's uranium refinery.

On July 12, Yonhap News reported, citing Incheon Ganghwa Police Station, that the previous day, more than 60 fishermen belonging to the Maeum Fishing Village Association in Seokmodo, Ganghwa County, submitted a complaint against YouTuber A for obstruction of business by spreading false information. On June 29, A visited Minmeoru Beach in Seokmodo and measured radiation levels with a portable device, later uploading a video to their YouTube channel stating, "The radiation level surged to 0.87μSv (microsieverts) per hour, about eight times higher than usual." However, radiation levels must be measured several times at a height of 1 meter above the ground to obtain an average value. It is known that some YouTubers inaccurately highlight momentarily high readings by placing the device close to sand or rocks, rather than following proper measurement procedures.

Yu Youngcheol, head of the Maeum Fishing Village Association, stated, "A spread false information, claiming that radiation levels detected at Minmeoru Beach exceeded safety standards," and added, "This video has severely damaged the image of Seokmodo, and as a result, there have been no tourists at all even during the summer vacation season." He further said, "Seafood is not selling, so fishermen are facing serious difficulties in making a living. Unable to bear the damages, we decided to file a lawsuit against A."

A police official said, "We have completed questioning the complainants," and added, "We plan to summon the accused for questioning soon."

Previously, some media outlets reported that untreated radioactive wastewater from North Korea's uranium refinery in Pyongsan, North Hwanghae Province, had flowed into the West Sea, causing contamination. As these claims spread, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission dispatched investigators from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) to Minmeoru Beach, confirming that the radiation level remained within the normal range of up to 0.2μSv per hour. Separately, on July 4, samples were collected from six locations in Ganghwado for further analysis. The results will be released after a two-week detailed investigation. The Incheon Institute of Health and Environment also recently announced that it had collected seawater samples from three locations, including the southwestern waters off Jumundo, Ganghwa County, and found no abnormalities in the radiation analysis.