Exported All the Way to the U.S., Yet Discarded Six Times... Are Restrooms to Blame for 'K-Oysters' Sanitation?

U.S.-Exported Oysters Discarded Six Times After Norovirus Detection

Next Year's Management Budget: "0 Won"

Contamination Caused by Human Waste Entering Coastal Waters

Entire Budget for Public Restrooms in Shellfish-Producing Areas Cut

150 Million Won Allocated in 2025; 100 Million Won This Year

Oysters exported to the United States were completely discarded or recalled there on six occasions after norovirus was detected. The entire budget for installing public restrooms, which are needed to maintain sanitation in oyster-producing waters, was cut for next year.

Shin Jang-sik, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee and an assemblyman from the Rebuilding Korea Party, analyzed data he received on the 11th from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service. The data showed that frozen oysters that passed domestic export inspections in 2024 and 2025 were subject to complete disposal or recall in the United States on six occasions after norovirus was detected.

Korean oyster dishes. Wikimedia.

South Korea's food standards and specifications do not establish a separate norovirus management standard for oysters intended to be eaten raw. The government requires raw oysters harvested from waters where there is a risk of norovirus infection to be labeled "for cooking" and manages their sanitation. The United States and the European Union (EU) order recalls or disposal when norovirus is detected during quarantine inspections.

Norovirus contamination in oysters can occur when human waste from land enters coastal waters, making sanitation in oyster-producing waters important. To prevent this, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries runs a program to install public restrooms in designated shellfish-producing areas, but no budget has been allocated for next year. The budget, which was 150 million won in 2025 and 100 million won this year, will be zero next year.

Assemblyman Shin said, "The budget had been meager to begin with, but they cut it to zero for installing restrooms, the most basic measure to prevent the spread of viruses. They must establish effective measures."

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