There Were More 'Atrocities' by Restaurants... Busan Restaurants Caught Reusing Food One After Another

Busan Special Judicial Police Crack Down on 31 Places Including 14 Food Reuse Cases Through Planned Investigation

Focused Inspection on 2,520 Food Service Establishments Including Pork Soup Restaurants

Cases of illegal food reuse cracked down by Busan Special Judicial Police.
[Image source=Busan City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Amid criticism of the ‘atrocities’ of Busan restaurants such as reusing broth and radish kimchi (kkakdugi), 14 more restaurants have been caught reusing leftover food.

The Busan Special Judicial Police announced on the 23rd that, as a result of a special planned investigation into 2,520 food service establishments regarding the reuse of leftover food, a total of 31 places were caught.

Among the places caught were 14 general restaurants reusing leftover food, 8 places storing expired products, 4 places with false or missing origin labeling of meat and seafood, and 5 places cooking and serving food in unsanitary kitchens.

The Special Judicial Police focused their crackdown on the reuse of leftover food, especially following the recent ‘pork soup restaurant kkakdugi reuse incident’ in the area, and caught 14 establishments reusing food.

During the investigation from the 11th to the 17th of last month, 12 establishments reusing leftover food were caught, and in the second investigation continuing until the 21st, 2 more establishments were caught.

Actions taken against the caught establishments include 19 cases sent to prosecution, 7 cases pending prosecution, and 5 cases fined for unsanitary kitchens.

The establishments caught reusing leftover food in this investigation will be subject to a 15-day business suspension administrative penalty and will be publicly disclosed on the websites of their respective district or county offices. Additionally, under the ‘Food Sanitation Act,’ they face imprisonment of up to 3 years or fines up to 30 million KRW.

Kim Kyung-duk, Director of the Busan City Citizen Safety Office, said, “We understand that business is difficult due to COVID-19, but food hygiene and safety must not be compromised by reusing food. We will continue guidance and crackdowns to create a safe dining culture.”

Reports and tips on illegal activities such as reusing side dishes can be made anytime through the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s Fraudulent and Substandard Food Reporting Center, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission’s People’s Petition, and the Busan City website’s ‘Report Illegal Activities’ section.