Vice minister of oceans and fisheries, “The problem of contaminated water is a battle between science and superstition”

Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Park Sung-hoon speaks in an emergency meeting of economy-related ministers and a meeting to discuss export investments at the government office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on July 12. Yonhap News

Park Sung-hoon, the new vice minister of oceans and fisheries, spoke on the public concern about the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, Japan and said it was “a battle between science and superstition.” As for rumors that he was only a temporary vice minister since he was expected to run in the parliamentary elections next April, he claimed he would be able to handle affairs more intensely and run the ministry according to the government’s basic direction in state administration. Park was appointed on June 30.

Vice Minister Park shared these thoughts at a meeting with the press at the government office in Sejong on July 20. He said, “The problem of the contaminated water seems to be a battle between science and superstition,” and added, “I believe in the potential of the Republic of Korea to overcome emotions with reason.”

When a reporter asked, “Isn’t it the limited data released by the Japanese government that the people cannot trust, and not the government?” Park said, “Not all the experts working at the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) speak on behalf of Japan,” and argued, “If they can’t trust the IAEA, then there is really no way to guarantee objectivity.”

The new vice minister of oceans and fisheries also said that the government would make strong requests to the Japanese government when necessary to ease public fear. He said, “When responding to the contaminated water, our first duty is to make sure our fishermen and people in the marine products industry don’t suffer any damage,” and added, “If the people continue to worry, the government will make the demands that it can make.”

However, he continued and said, “They have yet to begin releasing the water. We are concerned that strange rumors could dampen consumption (of marine products), but we have not been able to confirm any visible data indicating a rapid decline in consumption.”

The price of bay salt recently jumped, and Park explained that the government would release its stockpile. He expected prices to fall back down to that of the average year. On Thursday, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it would release 400 tons of bay salt from its stockpile from July 21 until August 8. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), the retail price of 5kg of coarse salt was 13,553 won as of July 19, about 20% up from the previous year.

Park said, “The consumer price of bay salt in an average year is about 9,450 won (per 5kg), and if we release our stock, we expect the price to fall to slightly over 10,000 won.” He expected people to be able to purchase bay salt at a price similar to that of the average year.

Park also suggested that he was open to various possibilities when it came to his future political actions, such as a bid in next year’s parliamentary elections.

Before the latest appointment, he served as the secretary for national planning in the Office of the President. When he was appointed vice minister, he was described as a “heavyweight” who had the president’s trust and word spread about his possible bid in a local district in Busan in next year’s parliamentary elections.

If he runs in the election next April, he must resign in January, at least 90 days prior to the election, making him a vice minister for only six months.

Park said, “It is not appropriate to discuss my personal political career when we are facing a major national challenge, such as the contaminated water,” and argued, “There is talk about a heavyweight vice minister and a temporary vice minister, but I think because of that I will actually be able to handle the work more intensely and run the ministry according to the basic direction of state administration.”