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Three Years of Close Monitoring of Busan’s Seas and Seafood Continues to Confirm Radiation Safety

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that continued radiation monitoring and analysis of seawater and seafood over the three years since the release of Fukushima contaminated water began have confirmed that the seas and seafood in the Busan area remain safe.

The City has been conducting thorough radiation monitoring and analysis of seawater and seafood and promptly and transparently disclosing the results so that citizens can easily access the information.

The City conducts radiation testing of seawater at 26 locations in waters under its jurisdiction, and safety has been confirmed at all monitoring sites to date. To further verify the safety of Busan’s waters objectively, the City also continuously compares and analyzes its findings with seawater radiation analysis results from the east, west and south coasts of Korea.

Samples from 14 coastal seawater locations among the 26 sites are analyzed by the Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment and research institutes at universities in Busan. The results showed that radionuclide concentrations were far below the World Health Organization’s standards for drinking water.

The 14 locations are Haeundae, Gwangalli, Dadaepo, Songdo, Songjeong, Ilgwang, Imrang, Gori, Oryukdo, Gadeokdo, Daebyeon-ri, Gamji Beach, Natgae Breakwater and Noksan Port.

The WHO drinking-water guideline levels are 10 Bq/L or below for each of cesium-134 (134Cs) and cesium-137 (137Cs), and 10,000 Bq/L or below for tritium (3H).

At the remaining 12 locations, the City operates a rapid seawater radiation monitoring network. No unusual changes attributable to artificial radionuclides have been identified to date, and all measurement results have remained within normal fluctuation ranges.

The 12 locations are Munjung Breakwater, the National Institute of Fisheries Science, Suyeong Bay Yachting Center, Suyeong Bay, the International Passenger Terminal, the Fisheries Resources Research Institute, Cheonseong Port Breakwater, Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Amnam Park, Jagalchi Market, the International Fisheries Distribution Facilities Management Office and ship-mounted monitoring equipment.

In addition, comparisons with seawater radiation analysis results from five locations along Korea’s east, west and south coasts showed that radionuclide concentrations in Busan’s waters were all within normal fluctuation ranges.

The five comparison locations are Chojeon Mongdol Beach in Namhae, Jangdeung Beach in Yeosu, Samsan Port in Jangheung, Seonyu Port in Gunsan and Hupo Port in Uljin.

To strengthen the safety of food and seafood products, the City conducts thorough radiation inspections at every stage from importation to production and distribution and continues to operate a comprehensive monitoring system. It is also conducting inspections of country-of-origin labeling for imported seafood and initiatives to promote seafood consumption.

Since 2013, the central government has prohibited imports of seafood produced in Fukushima Prefecture and eight neighboring prefectures in Japan. Japanese seafood produced in other regions undergoes radiation testing with every import shipment, and if even trace amounts of radiation are detected, an additional certificate of radionuclide testing must be submitted.

In addition, to strengthen the safety of food and seafood products, the City collected and conducted radiation testing on 6,789 food and seafood products at the production and distribution stages from 2023 through August 7 of this year. All results were within established safety standards.

Of these, the Fisheries Resources Research Institute tested 1,897 seafood products at the production stage, while the Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment tested 4,892 food and seafood products at the distribution stage.

Since August 2024, the Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment has also conducted additional testing of food products for plutonium-238, plutonium-239+240 (238Pu, 239+240Pu) and strontium-90 (90Sr).

From 2023 through August 7 of this year, inspections of seafood country-of-origin labeling covered a total of 27,543 cases and identified 107 violations. During the same period, 59 seafood consumption promotion and safety awareness campaigns were conducted. Events providing partial refunds in Onnuri gift certificates for purchases of domestically produced seafood were also held at 229 traditional markets.

The inspections were conducted by the City’s Special Judicial Police Division and Fisheries Promotion Division. The violations consisted of 49 cases in which the country of origin was not displayed and 58 cases of false country-of-origin labeling.

Meanwhile, since March 2023, the City has been actively responding through a dedicated task force on Fukushima contaminated water, headed by the Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs.

The City has also established and operates a scientific and objective radiation monitoring and analysis system. Monitoring and analysis results are promptly and transparently disclosed through various channels, including the City’s website, Busan Safety ON and outdoor electronic display boards.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “Scientific and objective monitoring and analysis conducted over the three years since the release of Fukushima contaminated water began have continuously confirmed the safety of Busan’s seas and seafood.”

He added, “We will continue to place the health and safety of our citizens above all else by maintaining a rigorous radiation monitoring and analysis system and promptly and transparently disclosing the results, thereby ensuring the continued safety of Busan’s seas and seafood.”