Concerns over the safety of fishery products have grown since the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, causing토토사이트 a shortage of salt.

In the midst of this, an ironic phenomenon is also appearing that imports of Japanese salt are also increasing.

Reporter Ji Soo-hee reports.

<Reporter>
A shortage of salt began ahead of the release of contaminated water in Fukushima.

The price of bay salt in Korea rose to 13,400 won per 5kg in June, which is 20% more expensive than last year.

Food service companies, which used to mainly use domestic sea salt, are increasing the use of refined salt instead of expensive sea salt and are preparing to diversify their sources of sea salt.

An official from the food service industry said, “There is no shortage of supplies to use right away, but we are looking for low-priced importers such as Australia and China because there may be problems with supply and demand for stockpiles.”

Food companies that mainly use refined salt are scrambling to stock up on refined salt, wondering if the shortage that started with bay salt will spread to refined salt.

One of the only companies in Ulsan that produces refined salt in Korea.

Since last June, when the controversy over contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan began, even if the factory operates 24 hours a day without holidays, it cannot handle all the orders that are pouring in.

Sales manager of a salt company
“We are continuing to export products (products), but we are in a very short supply. Due to the recent typhoon, the seawater salinity is low and the turbidity is bad, so production has decreased.

Amid the shortage of sea salt, the domestic supply of refined salt is also declining, and salt imports are greatly increasing.Imports have jumped significantly since June, when the shortage began. By country, cheap Chinese products accounted for most, followed by the United States and Bolivia.

Even Japanese salt was imported at 40 tons this month, the highest this year.

An ironic phenomenon is appearing that imports of Japanese salt are increasing amid concerns over the safety of seafood due to the discharge of contaminated water from nuclear power plants.

This is Ji Soo-hee from Korea Economic TV.