Impact of IAEA Review on Public Views toward Japan's Radioactive Water Release

• In Event: Survey and Evaluation of Institutionalized Collaboration

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines whether a safety review by an International Organization (IO) can alleviate public concerns about food and environmental safety, issues that intimately affect people’s daily lives. Owing to their technical expertise and legal standing, it has been argued that assurances or messages from authoritative IOs are perceived as credible and reliable, thereby swaying public opinion. While substantial evidence exists of IOs influencing public opinions in areas like national security and diplomacy, their effect on personal decisions, such as purchasing and consuming food, is less understood.

To address this gap, this study explores the impact of an IO on personal decisions through a survey experiment in South Korea. It focuses on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safety assurance regarding Japan’s release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station into the sea. Japan’s decision to release treated water has sparked widespread concerns domestically and internationally, centered on its potential negative impact on human health and the environment. To address public concerns, Japan has utilized the IAEA's safety review to reassure the public that this release meets international standards and is safe.

Methods: A web-based survey experiment was conducted with 773 participants, aged 18 and older, in South Korea from September 13 to 15, 2023. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: one received information that Japan's release of treated water adheres to IAEA-verified international safety standards; the control group did not receive such information. Questions focused on their willingness to consume Japanese-imported seafood.

Results: The findings reveal that the IAEA's verification slightly reduced concerns about the safety of Japanese seafood, leading to a higher willingness to consume it, particularly among those critical of South Korea's current government, perceived as pro-Japan. However, the IAEA's reassurance did not significantly alleviate worries about potential contamination of South Korean seafood and oceans, nor did it reduce support for imposing potential import restrictions on Japanese seafood.

Conclusions: The study suggests that while scientifically based reports from an authoritative IO can partially mitigate public concerns about health and environmental risks, their influence is limited. The effectiveness of IO messages in shaping public opinion appears to vary, particularly regarding issues that directly impact personal decisions.

Author

• Naoko Matsumura, Kobe University