Yellowtail sashimi, considered a winter seasonal staple in South Korea. (©Sankei by Tatsuya Tokiyoshi)
According to South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, imports of Japanese seafood in 2025 rose 27.2% from 2024 to $247 million USD. The figure marks a return to levels seen before the 2011 accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Yonhap News reported.
Following the nuclear accident, South Korea has continued to ban seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima. However, growing demand for products such as yellowtail, along with rising transaction prices, drove a sharp increase in the overall import value.
The data show that the value of Japanese seafood imports in 2025 exceeded the 2010 level of about $226 million, the year before the Fukushima accident. Imports fell to around $100 million in the aftermath of the disaster but have steadily recovered since then.
Although imports declined by about 12% year on year in 2023, when treated water from the plant was released into the ocean, they have expanded again since 2024.
Popular Imports
By product, yellowtail led the way at $81 million, up 47.2%. Import volumes increased by 7.1%, but the rise was driven largely by a sharp increase in prices. Scallops ($50 million) and sea bream ($45 million) were also among the most popular items.
Regarding the ban on seafood imports from eight prefectures, the South Korean government has maintained that the "restrictions cannot be lifted until public concerns are addressed," according to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun.
RELATED:
- Salmon War: Why is an Energy Giant Diving into Land-Based Aquaculture?
- Shakotan Sea Urchins: Are They Worth the Trip?
- Sails on the Bay: Shrimp Season Begins in Eastern Hokkaido
- Hidden Wonders | A Village in Niigata Where Mountains, Sea, and People Coexist
(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Tatsuya Tokiyoshi, The Sankei Shimbun
