Photo/Illutration Storage tanks for treated radioactive water line the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in April 2021. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Nearly 80 percent of South Koreans want to avoid food products from Fukushima Prefecture regardless of the water-release plan at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, a survey showed.

The Reconstruction Agency conducted the online survey in January and February in 10 countries and regions to gauge international feelings toward Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s plan to discharge treated radioactive water into the sea as early as spring 2023. A total of 2,700 individuals responded.

The survey results, released on April 26, will be used to take countermeasures against negative publicity from the water-release plan that could hurt the image of products from the prefecture, the agency said.

The government in April 2021 decided to discharge the water to reduce the more than 1 million tons of processed water stored at the plant.

Although the treatment process cannot remove tritium, the water will be diluted with seawater to bring its radiation level to well within safety standards, TEPCO has said.

According to the survey, 13 percent of respondents in Japan “do not want to buy” Fukushima-derived foodstuffs as of now. The ratio rose slightly to 14 percent when the water-release plan was included in the scenario.

The percentage increases were 5 to 8 points in five nations and regions, including Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States.

In South Korea, about 77 percent said they do not want to buy Fukushima-made products regardless of whether the water is discharged into the sea.

The survey asked respondents if they knew that Japan’s food safety levels are controlled under some of the strictest standards in the world.

Around 50 percent each in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan were aware, while the rate topped 30 percent in Europe and the United States.

However, just 15 percent of South Koreans said they were aware of Japan’s safety levels. And 56 percent said they knew about the safety levels but doubted the claims by the Japanese government.

Kosaburo Nishime, the reconstruction minister, on April 26 asked government bodies to show the international community data from the International Atomic Energy Agency and other third parties concerning the water-release plan.

The central government plans to bolster its radiation monitoring of waters around the Fukushima plant after the water is discharged.

Related News