Two Years Ago 'Bbangsok Beolle' Incident Recalled... Customer Fuels Controversy Saying "Still Frustrated"

Customer Post Expressing Desire for Proper Compensation
Company Immediately Offers Cash Compensation and Requests Medical Certificate

A story of a consumer who discovered a cockroach buried inside bread bought from a bakery only after eating half of it has sparked mixed reactions among netizens. On the 24th, an online community for self-employed business owners called 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss) posted a thread titled 'Review of Eating a Cockroach.'

The author, Mr. A, recounted, "Around the winter two years ago, a friend bought me a cream puff from a well-established bakery with a long history. I fed half to my mother after eating half myself, and then noticed something black inside." He continued, "Feeling something was off, I immediately took it out and saw it was the perfectly intact abdomen of a baby cockroach. I had already cut and eaten half of it."

Mr. A also revealed the conversation he had with the bakery owner. In the conversation, when Mr. A sent a message saying, "Tomorrow is the weekend, so the hospital is closed. I don't know what to do. How will you compensate me? This is terrible," the bakery owner replied, "I'm contacting you because I'm worried. How is your health?"
[Photo by Online Community 'Apeunikka Sajangida']

He added, "I ran straight to the bathroom and vomited everything. Then I took the bread back to the store and asked to see the owner. However, the owner showed no sign of apology, rummaged through a paper ledger, and handed me some cash." Mr. A expressed his disbelief, saying, "'How can you act like this when someone just ate a cockroach?' I said, but the owner crossed his arms and replied, 'Then go to the hospital and bring a medical certificate if there's a problem.'"

Mr. A also shared the conversation he had with the bakery owner. In the chat, Mr. A sent a message saying, "Tomorrow is the weekend, so hospitals are closed. I don't know what to do. How will you compensate me? This is terrible." The bakery owner replied, "I'm contacting you because I'm worried. How is your health?" Mr. A revealed, "The day after the incident, I received a single text asking 'Are you okay?' but it felt insincere, so I didn't reply. Since then, I haven't heard from them at all." He added, "Sometimes when I pass by the bakery, people go in and out buying bread as if nothing happened, and business seems to be doing well. If a cockroach had been found, they should have made more effort to address it, but it didn't seem that way."

He concluded, "Usually, how do people handle situations like this? I’m still angry, wondering if I did the right thing by just avoiding it because it was disgusting." Netizens who read the story expressed shared outrage with comments like, "The owner should have immediately gone to apologize," "The owner's response was ridiculous," and "You might need to take deworming medicine." On the other hand, some criticized Mr. A’s attitude, saying, "The owner was wise. He compensated with money right away, so is the complaint because the amount was too small?" and "Why bring up an incident from two years ago all of a sudden?"

How to Respond When Foreign Objects Are Found in Food at Restaurants?

It is the consumer’s right to complain when foreign objects are found in food. However, to report the damage and receive compensation, the consumer must prove that the food contained a foreign object. The Food Safety Information Service recommends following these steps if foreign objects are found in food prepared at a restaurant. First, document the situation where the foreign object was found and take photos of both the foreign object and the food.

It is helpful to remember details such as biting into the food and feeling something unusual or seeing the foreign object immediately upon opening the container. Second, do not discard the foreign object; keep it in a zipper bag or container. Without the foreign object, it is difficult to conduct an accurate investigation. Also, secure proof of purchase such as receipts. Then, report the restaurant’s name, address, the ordered food, and the circumstances of the foreign object discovery.

Once a report is filed, investigative agencies such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety or local governments will conduct an investigation and inform the reporter of the results. If the food was delivered, it can also be reported through the delivery app. According to the Food Sanitation Act, delivery app companies that receive foreign object reports must notify the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, so the process is essentially the same.

The manufacturer of the problematic food may face various administrative penalties depending on the foreign object found and the degree of negligence. For restaurants or bakeries, this usually involves corrective orders or business suspension for 2 to 20 days. The person responsible may face imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won. However, if the report is made too late after discovering the foreign object, evidence may deteriorate, making investigation difficult.

Occasionally, malicious consumers falsely report foreign object contamination. If a false report is made, under Article 98, Clause 3 of the Food Sanitation Act, the offender may face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.