S. Korea to increase safety, radiation tests on fishery products

South Korea will greatly increase the number of safety tests this year on fishery products sold here, including for radiation, the government said Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the government plans to conduct 7,200 safety checks, 18 percent more than in 2013. Tests for antibiotic residues and prohibited drugs will increase the most, to over 5,700, it said.

The number of tests for radiation will increase from 811 last year to 911, according to the ministry.

A widespread scare, prompted by a massive radiation leak at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant in March 2011, continues to hamper sales of fishery products here. Japan's nuclear power plant operators have admitted that large amounts of contaminated water from the Fukushima plant were discharged daily into open seas until as late as last year.

South Korea has virtually prohibited Japanese fisheries imports, banning products from Fukushima and its eight adjacent prefectures.

"All fishery products sold in South Korea, whether they were from near seas or far seas, have tested completely safe from radiation since Japan's Fukushima nuclear accident," the ministry said.

"The government will continue to improve the safety of fishery products by conducting thorough radiation tests on fishery products this year." (Yonhap News)