Japan’s Mt. Fuji Eruption Would Have Limited Impact on South Korea, Officials Say

A Snowcapped Mount Fuji (Image courtesy of Pexels/CCL)

SEOUL, May 28, 2025 — A potential eruption of Japan’s Mt. Fuji is unlikely to cause significant volcanic ash fallout in South Korea, according to South Korean disaster response authorities and experts.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held a high-level meeting Tuesday with members of the Volcanic Disaster Preparedness Committee, the Korea Meteorological Administration, and the National Disaster Management Research Institute to assess possible risks and review countermeasures amid renewed concerns over Mt. Fuji’s volcanic activity reported by Japanese media.

Experts at the meeting concluded that prevailing westerly winds in the upper atmosphere over Japan would likely carry volcanic ash eastward, limiting its reach toward the Korean Peninsula. Japan’s Cabinet Office has estimated the primary impact zone for ash deposition would extend about 200 kilometers from the volcano — well short of the more than 800 kilometers separating Mt. Fuji from South Korea.

Although the threat is considered minimal, South Korea has maintained preparedness measures since 2017, when the government developed a comprehensive volcanic ash mitigation plan in response to potential hazards from Mt. Baekdu, located near the North Korea-China border.

The plan includes enhanced volcano monitoring systems, inter-agency coordination, and sector-specific damage reduction strategies for transportation, agriculture, environmental safety, and food and drug sectors. It also supports scientific research and the development of ash response capabilities.

“There has been no precedent of ash from a Japanese eruption affecting South Korea, but we urge the public to familiarize themselves with safety guidelines just in case,” said Jung Chang-seong, director of natural disaster response at the Interior Ministry.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)