- On July 30, he visited the Oepo-ri Seafood Market in Ganghwa to inspect seafood safety and hold a meeting.
- Seawater sampling and analysis, seafood tasting, and promotion of fishing village vacations.
- Promotion of measures to support the fishing industry in Ganghwa.
On Wednesday, July 30, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok visited the seafood market in Oepo-ri, Ganghwa-gun, to inspect the safety management of local seafood products, inform citizens about their safety, and meet with people involved in the fishing industry for a roundtable discussion.
In addition to Mayor Yoo, the event was attended by the Ganghwa-gun County Mayor, Incheon City Council members, the Ganghwa-gun County Council Chair, the Chair of the Gyeongin Northern Fisheries Cooperative, and 13 Ganghwa fishing village leaders.
This visit was organized to address concerns about the safety of Ganghwa County's seafood, which has been facing difficulties due to allegations of North Korean nuclear contamination, to promote the sale of Ganghwa seafood, and to encourage fishing village vacations.
Prior to the meeting, Mayor Yoo Jung-bok inspected the safety of the Ganghwa waters with relevant officials and collected seawater samples for radiation testing. He then purchased and tasted seafood on-site to confirm its safety.
During the meeting with fisheries industry officials, he promised swift and thorough inspections at the Incheon City level to prevent a decline in seafood consumption and listened to the difficulties faced by fishermen.
Since the decision to release contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima in 2021, Incheon City has proactively responded to seafood safety management by forming a dedicated task force (TF) with the Fisheries Technology Support Center, Health and Environment Research Institute, Special Judicial Police, and local governments.
First, daily radiation tests are being conducted at the Incheon Regional Fisheries Cooperative Auction Market, and the Fisheries Technology Support Center is strengthening radiation testing of aquaculture farms and auction markets within the jurisdiction through the “Safe Seafood Management Village” pilot project.
The Incheon City Health and Environment Research Institute is conducting tests on seafood products in circulation, including those at large supermarkets and fish markets, in addition to analyzing seawater. The city operates a seafood testing facility at the coastal port, which serves as a distribution hub for the Seoul metropolitan area. The city has secured six radiation testing devices (two at the Fisheries Technology Support Center and four at the Health and Environment Research Institute) and conducts approximately 1,200 to 1,700 tests annually.
Additionally, the city is operating a program that allows citizens to directly observe the process from sample collection to analysis, and it is promptly disclosing inspection results to alleviate public anxiety and enhance trust.
Meanwhile, to alleviate the sluggish seafood consumption in the Ganghwa area, the Oepo-ri Seafood Market is planning a 20% discount event for the entire month of August (1st to 31st) as a self-help measure by fishermen, and plans to expand the discount event to nearby seafood markets.
In addition, Incheon City plans to promote the Onnuri Gift Certificate refund event at the Ganghwa County Folk Market during the Chuseok holiday, hold a discount event at the seafood (shrimp paste) direct sales market (October), and produce videos of fishing villages in the Ganghwa area for promotion through social media, subways, and YouTube.
Mayor Yoo Jung-bok stated, “The results of seawater analysis and seafood safety inspections have all been confirmed as ‘normal,’ so citizens can purchase Ganghwa seafood with confidence. We also encourage everyone to visit the beautiful and pristine islands and fishing villages of Ganghwa County during the summer vacation season.”
