Moon Pyeongsanchaekbang Cafe fined for providing disposable cups

Complainants Post Requests for Crackdown on 'Gukmin Sinmungo'
Yangsan City: "Fine Decision Made... Administrative Procedures Underway"

Former President Moon Jae-in was fined for providing disposable items such as plastic cups at Pyeongsan Bookstore Cafe in Yangsan City, Gyeongnam Province, where he personally works as a 'bookstore keeper' selling books.

According to a Yonhap News report on the 8th, Yangsan City stated, "We received a complaint that disposable plastic cups were provided at Pyeongsan Bookstore Cafe, decided to impose a fine, and are currently undergoing administrative procedures."

Pyeongsan Bookstore operates a cafe named 'Pyeongsan Chaeksarangbang' right next to the bookstore building. Yangsan City notified Pyeongsan Bookstore of the planned fine on the 26th of last month and will decide on the fine after waiting for Pyeongsan Bookstore's response until the 13th.

On the 25th of last month, former President Moon Jae-in was having a conversation while drinking a beverage in a disposable cup during Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea's visit to Pyeongsan Bookstore. [Image source=Captured from former President Moon Jae-in's Facebook]

The fine against Pyeongsan Bookstore began when a complainant posted a request on the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's online complaint system demanding a crackdown on the use of disposable cups at the Pyeongsan Bookstore cafe.

The complainant requested, "There is evidence that disposable plastic bottles and plastic straws are being provided to customers dining inside the cafe at Pyeongsan Bookstore in Pyeongsan Village, Habuk-myeon, Yangsan City, Gyeongnam Province. Please conduct an unannounced inspection."

Subsequently, posts were shared on online communities stating, "As a result of reporting Pyeongsan Bookstore's use of disposable items to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's online complaint system, we received a response that the Yangsan City Resource Circulation Division imposed a fine."

Article 10 of the 'Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources' stipulates that businesses such as food service establishments must suppress the use of disposable items and are prohibited from providing them free of charge. Violations can result in fines of up to 3 million KRW.

The ban on the use of disposable items in food service establishments began in August 2018 during the Moon Jae-in administration. At that time, the Blue House promoted photos of former President Moon, Chief Presidential Secretary Cho Kuk, and Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok holding tumblers and mugs.

Shortly after his inauguration in May 2017, former President Moon was once criticized for drinking coffee from a disposable cup while walking in a small garden inside the Blue House with newly appointed chiefs and secretaries.

Later, in May 2021, former President Moon appeared in a special promotional video for the 'P4G Seoul Green Future Summit,' mentioning the incident and stating, "After being criticized, the Blue House stopped using disposable cups and switched entirely to tumblers or personal cups."