



By Dong Sun-hwa







SBS variety show "Master in the House" has triggered controversy for promoting Aomori in Japan, one of eight prefectures near Fukushima, the site of a nuclear disaster in 2011.







Korea has banned seafood imports from Iwate, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Tochigi, Chiba, Aomori and Fukushima since 2013 due to radiation concerns.







But the program's Sunday episode stirred debate after describing Aomori as a "mystic village where beautiful four seasons coexist."







Cast members ― singer-actor Lee Seung-gi, actor Lee Sang-yoon, comedian Yang Se-hyung and Yook Sung-jae from K-pop boy band BTOB ― even enjoyed seafood with the guest, actor Lee Seo-jin.







Dozens of viewers complained about the promotion and claimed it does not match Koreans' sentiments.







But the program producers declined to comment on Tuesday.







"We do not have an official statement," a spokesperson told local media Sports Today.







The World Trade Organization (WTO) upheld Korea's seafood ban in April, reversing a lower panel's ruling in 2018. But according to the Nikkei Asian Review, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said: "There will be no change to Japan's push to have South Korea lift all restrictions."

