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Review

Current Status and Trends on Artificial Radionuclide Studies in the Korean Marine Environment

국내 해양환경 인공방사능 연구 동향

HEEJUN HAN1
,
JUNHYEONG SEO1
,
JAEEUN LEE23
,
JIHYE SHIN4
,
HYUNMI LEE5
,
INTAE KIM67*
한 희준1
,
서 준형1
,
이 재은23
,
신 지혜4
,
이 현미5
,
김 인태67*
1Senior Research Scientist, Marine Environmental Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Busan 49111, Korea
2UST Student, Marine Environmental Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Busan 49111, Korea
3Integrated M.S.-Ph.D Student, Department of Ocean Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
4Research Specialist, Marine Environmental Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Busan 49111, Korea
5Full-time Research Specialist, Marine Environmental Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Busan 49111, Korea
6Principal Research Scientist, Marine Environmental Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Busan 49111, Korea
7Professor, Department of Ocean Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
1한국해양과학기술원 해양환경연구부 선임연구원
2한국해양과학기술원 해양환경연구부 UST 학생연구원
3과학기술대학연합대학원대학교 한국해양과학기술원스쿨 대학원생
4한국해양과학기술원 해양환경연구부 기술원
5한국해양과학기술원 해양환경연구부 전임기술원
6한국해양과학기술원 해양환경연구부 책임연구원
7과학기술대학연합대학원대학교 한국해양과학기술원스쿨 교수
*Corresponding Author
30 November 2025. pp. 274-287
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Abstract

Marine radionuclide research in Korean seas has been continuously conducted in response to various events starting with the disposal of radioactive waste in the East Sea by the former Soviet Union (now Russia) followed by the fallout from nuclear weapon testing, releases from nuclear power plants, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011 together with the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater in 2023. Since the Fukushima accident, extensive studies have been carried out in coastal waters for the direct and indirect inputs of radionuclides into the ocean including their transport pathways in the surrounding seas of Korea and their spatial and temporal distributions. These efforts have also brought increasing attention to the potential impacts on marine environments and biological systems. In addition, more than 300 nuclear power plants are currently planned and/or under construction in the seas surrounding the Korean peninsula including South Korea, Japan, and China, which raises public concern over nuclear safety in the northwestern Pacific region. Also, the Japanese government has released treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean on several occasions and plans to continue these discharges over the next 30 years. These actions have drawn significant domestic and international attention and concern regarding their potential impacts on the marine environment. Recently, the scope of radionuclide research has expanded to investigate the long-term behavior, bioaccumulation, and biogeochemical cycling of radionuclides in seawater, marine sediments, and both benthic and marine organisms. Such studies provide essential scientific backgrounds for (1) protecting public health, (2) ensuring the stability of marine ecosystems, and (3) managing the radioactive safety of coastal seafood. Marine radioactivity has emerged as a significantly important issue that extends beyond environmental concerns to one requiring international cooperation and transparent data sharing. Thus, it is crucial to establish a real-time monitoring and science-based early warning systems. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in marine radionuclide research conducted in Korean coastal waters following the Fukushima accident. This study also highlights recent trend and emphasizes the urgent need to establish a rapid detection and monitoring framework to support sustainable and responsive marine radiological surveillance in the future.

Keywords
Radionuclide
Artificial radionuclide
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident
Radioactive wastewater

한국 해역에서의 해양 방사능 조사는 구소련(러시아)의 동해 핵폐기물 투기를 시작으로 핵실험 기원의 방사성 핵종, 원자력 발전소 방출, 그리고 2011년 후쿠시마 원전 사고 및 2023년 후쿠시마 오염수 방류에 이르기까지 다양한 요인에 의해 지속적으로 수행되어 왔다. 특히 후쿠시마 원전 사고 이후 방사성 세슘(Cs-134, 137)을 비롯한 다양한 방사성 핵종의 해양과 대기, 그리고 한반도 주변 해역으로의 직, 간접적 유입 및 다양한 경로를 통한 영향과 그 분포 변화에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되었으며 해양 환경 및 생물에 미치는 영향에 대한 관심도 크게 증가하였다. 또한, 한반도 주변 해역에는 한국, 일본, 중국을 포함한 300기 이상의 원자력 발전소 건설이 계획되고 있어 북서태평양 해역의 핵안전성에 대한 국민적 관심이 높아지고 있으며 최근 일본 정부는 후쿠시마 오염수를 해양으로 여러 차례 방류하였고 향후 30년에 걸쳐 해양 방류할 계획이다. 이러한 오염수의 해양 방류는 국내외적으로 우려와 관심을 불러일으키고 있다. 최근에는 해수 뿐만 아니라 해양 퇴적물, 저서생물, 어류 등에 축적된 방사성 핵종의 장기적인 거동과 생물학적 농축, 생지화학적 순환 과정에 대한 연구가 확대되고 있다. 이러한 연구는 국민 건강 보호는 물론 해양 생태계의 안정성 확보와 연안 수산물의 방사능오염 안전 관리를 위한 필수적인 과학적 기반을 제공한다. 또한 해양 방사능은 단순한 환경 이슈를 넘어 국제적 협력과 정보 공유가 요구되는 중요한 분야로 실시간 감시 체계의 구축과 과학 기반의 조기 대응 시스템 마련이 시급하다. 본 논문에서는 후쿠시마 원전 사고 이후 국내해에서 수행된 해양환경 방사능 관련 연구 결과와 최근 연구 동향을 종합적으로 소개하고 해양방사능 신속탐지 체계 구축의 필요성 등 향후 지속 가능한 감시 및 대응 체계 구축을 위한 방향성을 제시하고자 한다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국해양학회
  • Journal Title :The Sea Journal of the Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국해양학회지 바다
  • Volume : 30
  • No :4
  • Pages :274-287
  • Received Date : 2025-07-24
  • Revised Date : 2025-10-24
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-17
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7850/jkso.2025.30.4.274
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