BSE Season 2? The Sensible Approach of the Korean Public and Government in Dealing with Scientific Efforts.

The current situation surrounding the release of contaminated water from Japanese nuclear plants differs significantly from the BSE (Mad Cow Disease) crisis of 15 years ago. Public sentiment remains calm, and the government has strengthened its scientific explanations. There have been no major disruptions or decreases in consumption. However, public apprehension still exists, and challenges remain for the government to alleviate these concerns.

 

Continuous attention and policy development are necessary for the safety of the public and a stable seafood supply in the future.

 

On the 11th, Park Gu-yeon, the Deputy Head of the State Affairs Planning Office, stated during a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul, "Even during periods when discharge is not taking place, we will promptly communicate daily briefings regarding the status of preparations for the secondary release, dispatch of experts, and unusual occurrences, such as leakage monitoring."

 

During this release period, the tritium concentration in samples collected from facilities where contaminated water and seawater are diluted has remained between 142 to 220 becquerels per liter (Bq/L), well below the discharge target of 1500 Bq/L. Radiation monitoring results also showed no significant fluctuations in dilution water intake points (6.3 to 11.0 counts per second), upper reservoirs (4.8 to 5.8 counts per second), and contaminated water transfer pumps (4.7 to 5.9 counts per second).

 

Although concerns about a decrease in seafood consumption did not materialize, public anxiety persists. In a nationwide survey conducted by four pollsters last month, 74% of respondents answered that they believed the water discharge would be harmful, while only 21% thought it would not be harmful.

 

An anonymous source from one of the polling agencies said, "While the public's psychological unease is evident in the surveys, it does not translate into behavioral changes, such as reduced seafood consumption. The significant polarization in public opinion may be attributed to political divisions, with the government having provided over 50 briefings with scientific explanations, but anxiety does not easily diminish. It appears that both the government and political circles need to collaborate and devise solutions."

 

The government is expanding its response efforts through direct support to the seafood industry. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has allocated 64 billion KRW this year, including a budget for seafood coexistence discounts, which includes Zero Pay and refunds, and has requested additional contingency funds from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

 

Furthermore, the budget for government seafood stockpiling, which was around 75 billion KRW last year, has doubled to 175 billion KRW this year. Support budgets for private sector purchases also amount to 115 billion KRW. Plans are also underway for promotional events to boost seafood consumption in major seafood markets like Seoul's Noryangjin Fish Market and Busan's Jagalchi Fish Market.

 

With Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) approaching, the retail sector is making efforts to promote the safety of Korean seafood and support small and medium-sized enterprises facing financial difficulties.

 

The Federation of Korean Industries has proposed a "Chuseok Promotion for Korean Agriculture and Fisheries Consumption and Cooperation with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises." Member companies are encouraged to participate by using Korean seafood in employee cafeterias, purchasing Korean agricultural and seafood products as Chuseok gifts, traveling to rural areas during the Chuseok holidays, and making early payments to SME suppliers, among other initiatives.

 

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a "Let's Have a Happy Chuseok Together" campaign, with more than 100 of its employees visiting the Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul. The Chamber plans to spend at least 40 million KRW purchasing seafood during this one-week campaign.

 

As of now, public opinion regarding the release of contaminated water from Japanese plants remains relatively stable, and the government and business sectors are making efforts to ensure the safety of the public and support the seafood industry. Continuous attention and policy development are necessary for the safety of the public and a stable seafood supply in the future.