Controversy Over Fake Meat Just Days Ago... Jeju Now Busts Large Batch of 'Jjakttung Samgyeopsal'

False Labeling of Spanish Pork Belly as Jeju Pork Belly

The 'Fatty Samgyeopsal' from a Jeju barbecue restaurant that has recently sparked controversy.
[Photo source=Online community capture]

In Jeju, where there was controversy over "fatty pork belly," restaurants have now been caught falsely labeling imported or pork from other regions as Jeju pork.

On the 14th, the Jeju branch of the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service announced, "From the 22nd of last month to the 9th of this month, we conducted a comprehensive crackdown targeting major tourist spots, famous restaurants, and livestock distribution businesses in the province, resulting in the detection of 12 fraudulent agricultural product distribution businesses (14 items)."

Restaurant A was found to have falsely labeled U.S. pork shoulder and Spanish pork belly as Jeju pork. While grilled pork used Jeju pork, dishes such as pork stew, stir-fried pork, and tofu kimchi contained U.S. or Spanish pork. The quantity of falsely labeled origin was 1,239.71 kg, with a violation amount reaching 40.16 million KRW.

Restaurant B disguised pork from other cities and provinces as Jeju pork and sold it. The violation quantity was 3,856 kg, with an amount of 38.17 million KRW. Investigations are ongoing for these two places and two other businesses that falsely labeled the origin of pork.

Additionally, eight businesses that either did not label the origin, violated labeling methods, or falsely labeled livestock traceability were each fined 3 million KRW. By item, there were 10 cases involving pork, 3 involving beef, and 1 involving chicken.

Upon learning of this, netizens responded with comments such as "I don't want to go to Jeju anymore," "Not all restaurants are like this, right?" "If even origin labeling is deceptive, what can we trust when buying?" and "The fines are too low."

Meanwhile, controversies related to pork continue daily in Jeju. Recently, a tourist who visited a famous Jeju barbecue restaurant posted a photo of "fatty pork belly" on social media, sparking further debate.