The Chosun Daily - 13 January 2026
President Lee Jae-myung frames Fukushima seafood ban as CPTPP agenda
By Kim Tae-jun
President Lee Jae-myung stated that the issue of lifting the import ban on Fukushima seafood could be addressed as a key agenda item for negotiations on joining the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) ahead of the Korea-Japan summit. The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement (FTA) established in 2018 by Asia-Pacific countries, with 12 member states including Japan, Canada, and Australia, and South Korea is also pursuing membership.
In a solo interview with Japan’s NHK, publicly released on the 12th, President Lee Jae-myung said regarding the South Korean government’s ongoing import ban on seafood from Fukushima and seven other prefectures, “It will be difficult to lift the ban in the short term, as it involves addressing the emotions and trust of the Korean people.” However, he added, “To gain Japan’s cooperation for joining the CPTPP, this issue is a very important agenda,” and emphasized, “As a long-term problem to be resolved, we need to discuss future responses.”
This approach is interpreted as a pragmatic strategy: while drawing a line against immediate resumption of imports due to public sentiment, it aims to place the seafood issue—long demanded by Japan—on the official diplomatic agenda to secure national economic benefits through CPTPP membership.
President Lee is scheduled to visit Nara Prefecture, the hometown of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, from the 13th for a two-day summit. Regarding the summit’s direction, he stated, “It is important for South Korea and Japan to share values and goals within the Northeast Asian context,” and added, “We should find areas to cooperate while addressing shortcomings and competing.”
On North Korea-related issues, he reaffirmed support for Japan-North Korea engagement. Regarding Prime Minister Takaichi’s willingness to pursue a Japan-North Korea summit, President Lee said, “North Korea-U.S. and Japan-North Korea dialogues are crucial for peace and stability in Northeast Asia,” and expressed, “South Korea also wishes to play a role in creating conditions for Japan-North Korea relations to develop through communication.”
This will be President Lee’s fifth meeting with a Japanese prime minister since taking office and the second Korea-Japan summit since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assumed office following the resignation of former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
