On October 10, Chairman Noh Dong-Jin of Korea’s National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, along with local union leaders, visited Los Angeles to promote Korean seafood products.
The cooperatives have set up a promotional booth to showcase various Korean seafood products to Korean American companies and local buyers. They have also formed partnerships with Korean grocery markets, including H-Mart, to organize marketing events for Korean seafood products targeted at local consumers.
Since assuming office as the 26th Chairman of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives in March 2023, Noh has made “policies for fishermen” a top priority.
One pressing issue is how to address the discharge of radioactive water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, which began in August 2023. The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives is implementing a rigorous inspection process to ensure the safety of Korean seafood products.
Chairman Noh recently sat down for an interview with the Korea Daily, conducted in Korean. The following is an edited excerpt from the interview.
“The discharge of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant could have a devastating impact on the seafood industry. We represent a network of 91 fishermen’s cooperatives across Korea, with 1 million members, making us Korea’s leading seafood producer organization. Therefore, our responsibilities are significant. We are making every effort to respond to the discharge of contaminated water by producing safe seafood, promoting seafood consumption, and supporting fishermen.”
– How does your organization handle the discharge of contaminated water?
“We employ a four-step inspection process. First, we collect seawater from 200 areas and examine it for radioactive substances. Subsequently, we conduct radiation checks at the pre-auction phase, processing phase, and distribution phase. Moreover, seafood products undergo radiation checks at more than 220 locations nationwide. We are also considering a certification label that consumers can visually verify. To date, we have conducted over 80,000 radiation tests, and none have exceeded safety standards. If any do, we will halt production, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring safe seafood.”
– How do you encourage seafood consumption?
“I believe consumption will increase if consumers can easily purchase seafood products with quick delivery. Currently, we sell directly at 24 regional stores in South Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang provinces. We are planning to expand this sales method to 90 fisheries cooperatives nationwide, establishing a robust distribution system that can deliver fresh seafood products within two to three hours of online orders. In the United States, we will employ marketing strategies to enhance the consumer experience.”
– Can you explain your plans for expanding exports to the United States?
“We intend to expand the consumption base of Korean seafood products in the United States by developing value-added products in small packages, aligning with the latest trends. We will continue to develop K-seafood products tailored to the preferences of American consumers, such as frozen gimbap, which has recently achieved great success. Additionally, we will focus on marketing these products through media exposure.”
– What are your management philosophies as Chairman of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives?
“I aspire to create a workplace that ensures fair evaluation and secures the future of our employees. My long-term goal is to transform the former Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market into a representative landmark of Korea and channel profits to fishermen nationwide.”
BY EUNYOUNG LEE [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
