▲ Protestors from civic groups stage a protest rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on May 20, 2022, to voice their objection to Japan's decision to discharge water into the sea containing radioactive materials stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. (Yonhap)
▲ This file photo, taken May 4, 2022, shows Oceans Minister nominee Cho Seung-hwan speaking during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Fukushima

S. Korea not to lift Fukushima seafood import ban for CPTPP entry push: oceans minister

By Oh Seok-min

SEJONG, May 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's oceans minister said Wednesday that his country will not lift a ban on imports of seafood from Japan's Fukushima area for the sake of winning Japan's support for the country's push to join a major free trade agreement.

Seoul decided to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which involves 11 nations, including Japan and Australia, and has been working on due domestic procedures to submit an application.

Japan has been reluctant to Seoul's entry, as South Korea has banned all seafood imports from Japan's Fukushima areas since 2013 on concerns over their radiation levels following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown.

"We've taken a resolute stance on the issue. We aren't considering allowing imports of Japan's Fukushima seafood as a tactic to get backing for our bid to join the CPTPP," Oceans Minister Cho Seung-hwan said during a meeting with reporters.

Cho earlier said the issue regarding regulations on the fishery products is directly linked to the health and safety of the people so that it is not a matter being discussed under any international customs agreements.

South Korea needs unanimous support from the 11 member states to win membership accreditation.

As for the now-expired fisheries agreement between Seoul and Tokyo, the minister vowed efforts to resume negotiations despite stark differences in their stances amid diplomatic rows stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The bilateral fisheries agreement has not been renewed after expiring in 2016, as the two sides failed to narrow the gap on fishing quotas and other issues.

Officials here have said that Japan's demand is closely related to South Korea's sovereignty over its easternmost islets of Dokdo in the East Sea.

"Japan has not been quite active in resuming talks on the agreement," Cho said. "We will continue efforts to make progress on the matter and to develop the bilateral relations in a future-oriented fashion."

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