'Illegal Operation Under Famous Restaurant Signs'... 15 Food Service Establishments Caught in Gyeonggi-do

False Origin and Confusing Labeling, Food Preservation Standard Violations, Unreported Business Activities, etc.
Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police, "Strong Punishment Policy for Detected Businesses According to Regulations"

Photo materials [Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Fifteen well-known food service establishments in Gyeonggi Province have been caught by judicial authorities for falsely labeling the origin of their products and selling food without proper registration.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit announced on the 9th that "we inspected 90 food service establishments, including rest stops and popular restaurants in tourist areas within Gyeonggi Province, and found 15 establishments (15 cases) violating the Food Sanitation Act and other regulations."

The violations included 8 cases of false origin labeling, 2 cases of violating food preservation standards, and 5 cases of operating food service businesses without registration.

According to the Special Judicial Police, establishment A in Paldang Recreation Area, Hanam City, was booked on charges of using Chinese chili powder labeled as both 'domestic' and 'Chinese origin.' Mislabeling the origin can result in imprisonment for up to 7 years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

Establishment B near Hantaek Botanical Garden in Yongin City is suspected of storing frozen raw materials in refrigeration and using them, while establishment C, a famous cafe by the Namhan River in Yangpyeong County, is accused of selling admission tickets and food and beverages without registering as a food service business.

Violations of food preservation standards can lead to imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million KRW, and operating a food service business without registration can result in imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

Kim Min-kyung, head of the Civil Affairs Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "The establishments caught will be strictly punished according to relevant regulations," adding, "We will continue inspections and crackdowns to eradicate illegal food-related activities and strengthen food safety management."