(Tokyo Shimbun: January 28, 2015—p. 6)

 Kiyoshi Nakamura

 SEOUL—More than 90% of the South Korean people are concerned about radioactive contamination ascribed to the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 and believe that the accident has effects on their nation, according to survey findings released yesterday by the Korea Consumer Agency, a South Korean government entity under the Korea Fair Trade Commission.

 The agency conducted a public opinion survey in September last year on a face-to-face interview basis, targeting a total of 600 adults living in Greater Seoul. In the survey, respondents were asked whether they think South Korea is affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident. In response to this question, a total of 92.6% answered “yes,” broken down into 38.8% saying “affected very much” and 53.8% saying “affected.”

 Respondents were asked their specific concerns in the aftermath of radioactive contamination. In the breakdown of answers to this question, a total of 52.9% said “marine products, such as fish and shellfish, might be contaminated,” with a total of 18.5% noting that “contaminated agricultural, marine, and food products might be imported” and a total of 17.5% pointing to “radioactive rain, air.”

 Respondents were also asked whether they think they are provided with enough information about radioactive contamination. To this question, a total of 76.1% answered in the negative. They were further asked if they know what their government has been doing to deal with radioactive contamination. To this question, a total of 68.9% answered “no.” The survey results showed growing concerns among South Korean consumers due to the lack of information.