South Korea to expand water testing amid Fukushima water concerns
After Japan released nuclear waste from its Fukushima power plant, Seoul is planning on increasing the number of testing sites to 250 next year.
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A blue pipeline to transport seawater is shown at the facility for the release of treated radioactive water to sea from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan on July 14, 2023. (AP)
Concerns over the leak of radioactive waste from Japan's Fukushima power plant have prompted South Korea to increase the number of locations for water testing.
According to South Korean Oceans Minister Cho Seung-hwan, Seoul aims to increase the number of testing sites to about 250 next year.
In late August, South Korean Vice Oceans Minister Park Sung-hoon confirmed that radiation testing on farmed seafood will be toughened to ease domestic tension as a result of the release of a huge amount of treated radioactive water from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Seoul-based Yonhap News reported on Monday that a month before the release of the radioactive water, Seoul began “emergency radiation tests on samples from a total of 75 coastal locations in the east, west, and south of South Korea, as well as the waters off the southern island of Jeju.”
“We chose the spots, as they are expected to have the released waters first given the sea current. We will add more locations to the list, particularly in the East Sea, to further ensure safety,” Cho stated this after visiting a test site off the coast of Busan, South Korea, last week.
Read more: Japan says no tritium found in fish following Fukushima water release
No radiation found in seafood or marine products
Seoul is also conducting radiation testing on 33 places in more remote areas, according to the minister, until people are "no longer worried," and no further tests are required.
He also assured that samples have met standards, and radiation had not been found in any seafood or marine products imported.
In March 2011, Fukushima suffered one of the world's worst nuclear disasters since Chornobyl after a tsunami rocked the islands.
About 1.33 million cubic meters of groundwater, rainwater, and water that was used for cooling the three damaged reactors at the Fukushima site are now being released.
To remove the radioactive elements, plant operator TEPCO treated the water using its ALPS processing systems. Several neighboring countries have expressed skepticism regarding the system's reliability.
DPRK, China blasted move
The DPRK's Foreign Ministry called Japan's decision an "inhumane crime", and added that it would have environmental and health ramifications on the region.
Beijing criticized the proposal as "extremely irresponsible" when it was unveiled in 2021, and it underlined its objections in July. According to Intelligence Online, the Israeli 9500 Group is helping the Japanese government to counteract Chinese media reports over the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
