SOUTH KOREA: Japan's radiation fear divides South Korean mothers' trend of buying Japanese-made diapers

Record ID: 464134

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Japan's radiation fear divides South Korean mothers' trend of buying Japanese-made diapers
  • Date: 26th March 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF CUSTOMER BUYING KOREAN DIAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 33-YEAR-OLD KIM SO-HYUN SAYING: "I don't think radioactive materials would affect diapers. This doesn't have to be taken too sensitively, so there's no need for me to stock them up." VIEW OF SUPERMARKET SELLING DIAPERS
  • Embargoed: 10th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVA605LMFPAPCT28AXDX8MGLRFQV
  • Story Text: The risk of radiation contamination from Japan's damaged nuclear power station has divided opinion among South Korean mothers in their trend for buying Japanese-made diapers.
    Sales of the Japanese diapers have doubled since the quake on the country's second largest online shopping website Auction Corp and many online shopping malls putting out "sold out" warnings.
    One mother who has hoarded a large amount of Japanese-made diapers was still worried about the long-term future.
    "I bought lots of diapers at online shopping malls. I see many warnings of 'sold out,' nowadays. Other mothers and I are worried about the situation. I bought a lot of diapers so I can use them for five to six months. But what would happen after that?" said 25-year-old Jung Younsun.
    "I heard the diaper manufacturing sites are safe from radiation, located far from nuclear plant. But I also heard the radiation level of tap water is dangerous to babies. So I am worried even if the diaper manufacturers are far from the nuclear plant," Jung added.
    However, the Japanese-made diapers are piled up in big marts in Seoul, waiting for shoppers. One customer said she would be cautious about the price and radioactive contamination, though.
    "Currently I'm using Japanese diapers, but it's likely the price will rise and there's also danger of radioactive contamination. So I would like to start using Korean diapers," said 35-year-old Ji Mi-yeon at Seoul's Lotte Mart.
    Another woman said many mothers over-reacted when they purchased the diapers at online shopping malls.
    "I don't think radioactive materials would affect diapers. This doesn't have to be taken too sensitively, so there's no need for me to stock them up," said 33-year-old Kim So-hyun at the mart.
    Radiation above safety levels has been found in milk and vegetables from Fukushima, Japan, where the stricken nuclear plant is located. Some countries have curbed imports of Japanese food from the affected area.
    Radiation particles have been found as far away as Iceland, although Japan insists the levels are not dangerous to adults.
    Engineers are trying to stabilise the six-reactor Daiichi nuclear plant in Fukushima, 250 km (150 miles) north of the capital, two weeks after an earthquake and tsunami battered the plant and devastated northeast Japan, leaving nearly 26,000 people dead or missing.
    The estimated $300 billion damage from the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami makes it the world's costliest natural disaster, dwarfing Japan's 1995 Kobe quake and Hurricane Katrina, which swept through New Orleans in 2005.
    The official death toll from the March 11 disaster has risen to 9,523, but is bound to rise as 16,094 people are still missing.
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