Noryangjin Fish Market's 'Rotten Snow Crab' Controversy Followed by 'Cut Flower Crab'
"I Trusted 'I'll Give You Better'... Received Crabs with Broken Backs"
The Noryangjin Fish Market, which previously suffered from the "rotten snow crab" controversy, has once again found itself embroiled in scandal. A story has emerged that the legs of blue crabs purchased at the market were severed, and some even had cracked carapaces.
On the 6th, a user identified as A (in their 30s) posted on an online community, revealing this experience along with four photos, stating they bought blue crabs at Noryangjin Fish Market. A, who wanted to try crab marinated in soy sauce for the first time, began by saying, "Looking back, the lady at the blue crab stall seemed suspicious."
A explained, "The lady first put only a few crabs from the box I had chosen into a bag, then suddenly moved to another place, opened a covered box, and started putting crabs from there into the bag." They added, "Feeling uneasy, I asked, 'Could you please pack them from the box I originally chose?' but the lady ignored me, saying, 'I'm giving you better ones.'
The legs of the blue crab purchased at Noryangjin Fish Market are severed. [Photo by Online Community]
A, who has very poor eyesight, said, "Anyway, when I got home and excitedly took out the blue crabs, I was shocked." They continued, "I can understand the severed legs, but seeing the carapace like this is upsetting. I really love crab marinated in soy sauce, but I'm worried that the innards might have decomposed messily." The photos A posted show blue crab legs severed and scattered here and there, and the carapace partially cracked, revealing the eggs and innards inside.
Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "I'm scared to go to the market these days," "The system that deceives consumers because they don't know better seems flawed," "We need to root out these mistakes to prevent damage," "The market's image is being completely ruined," and "Don't believe when they say they'll give you better ones. There's no such thing as a free lunch."
A seafood company in Noryangjin that sold "rotten snow crab" to high school students has been suspended from business. [Photo by Online Community]
Meanwhile, last November, Noryangjin Fish Market was embroiled in controversy for selling spoiled snow crabs to a high school student. A parent, B, said, "My child attends a specialized high school for culinary studies and said they were going to visit Noryangjin Fish Market with a friend for sightseeing. Three hours later, they came home carrying three black plastic bags. But there was a fishy smell like rotten fish." They added, "According to my child, the crabs were cut into pieces and placed in a basket, and the black spots seemed like something was smeared on them."
The business that sold the spoiled snow crabs to the student claimed that the crabs went bad because ice was missing during the storage and distribution of the crab legs. However, the Merchant Disciplinary Committee immediately suspended the business and launched an investigation. In addition, controversies such as "blue crab swapping" at Soraepogu Fish Market and overcharging at traditional markets have repeatedly surfaced, causing consumer dissatisfaction and damaging the overall business of the markets.
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