This file photo, taken Dec. 16, 2020, shows fish for sale in Geoje, 333 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Following Japan’s decision to release contaminated water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, some South Korean consumers have opted to reduce their consumption of seafood regardless of its origin, a consumer advocacy group here said Tuesday.
The Consumers Korea conducted a survey of 500 men and women in their 20s to 50s living in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
Among the respondents, 63.2 percent said that they had reduced their consumption of seafood.
In response to a question asking about the impact of Japan’s decision to release contaminated water into the ocean on their future seafood consumption, 91.2 percent said that they would reduce their consumption, indicating that demand for seafood could weaken further in the future.
Although Japan’s work to release contaminated water will not start for another two years, concerns over the safety of fisheries are already mounting among local consumers.
“The level of consumer concern about Japanese fisheries was very high at 6.69 points out of 7 points,” the Consumers Korea said.
At 69.6 percent, more than two thirds of the respondents said that they don’t trust the safety management system for Japanese fisheries.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
