Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol Proposes 'Support Act for Fisheries Affected by Radioactive Contaminated Water'

Rep. So: "Legal Basis Insufficient for Supporting Fishermen's Damage"

Establishing Domestic Seafood Safety Management System Including Radiation Monitoring

So Byeong-cheol, the Democratic Party whip of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, announced on the 10th that he has taken the lead in proposing the "Special Act on Support for Fisheries Victims and Others Affected by the Discharge of Radioactive Contaminated Water from Fukushima, Japan."

Rep. So explained, "The Japanese government officially approved the discharge of radioactive contaminated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean on July 22, 2022, and began the discharge on August 24, 2023. According to a public opinion poll conducted by 'Yeoreonjosa Kkot' in the first week of September, 8 out of 10 citizens responded that imports of Japanese seafood should be banned."

[Photo by So Byeong-cheol's Office]

This unprecedented event involves the long-term discharge of a massive amount of radioactive contaminated water into the ocean for at least 30 years, something humanity has never experienced before. However, both the Japanese and Korean governments have effectively supported this, leading to ongoing safety concerns and controversies.

In particular, there is a lack of legal grounds to support Korean fishermen, coastal residents, and other citizens who suffer actual damages.

The government claims to have spent about 1 billion won of taxpayers' money to produce and distribute advertisements asserting the safety of the contaminated water and has prepared 200 billion won in consumption promotion subsidies, but these measures cannot be considered practical solutions.

These are neither fundamental solutions nor do they address the fact that only intermediaries in the distribution chain benefit rather than the actual fishing sites.

Accordingly, Rep. So Byeong-cheol has taken the lead in proposing a special act that can provide direct support to affected fishermen.

The government is required to establish a domestic seafood safety management system, including radioactive monitoring, and to prepare a comprehensive plan every five years regarding support for affected fishermen and others, as well as the restoration of the marine environment.

Furthermore, an annual survey on the status of radioactive contaminated water and an implementation plan for support and marine environment restoration must be established and executed.

Based on this, support funds are to be provided to compensate for actual damages to affected fishermen and others, and a "Support Fund Deliberation Committee" is to be established within the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to review the criteria, amount, and timing of the support payments.

In addition, a system will be implemented to support items for which it is recognized as difficult to continue fishing, harvesting, or aquaculture businesses due to radioactive contaminated water, helping affected fishermen and related industry workers with business closure and recovery, and facilitating the prompt restoration of affected areas.

Especially, local governments will also be able to establish and implement support plans if they judge that there is a risk of damage to small-scale and self-employed businesses or regional economic stability, such as price drops or production decreases of seafood within their jurisdiction, which they understand well.

Rep. So Byeong-cheol said, "The reality is that there is insufficient legal basis for support even when actual damage occurs to fishermen and coastal residents whose lives depend on the sea, including in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. I have proposed a special act to establish a domestic seafood safety management system including radioactive monitoring, provide practical support to affected fishermen, and restore the contaminated marine environment."

Suncheon = Lee Yeon-gyeong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy hss79@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.