Gyeonggi Province has uncovered a large number of illegal cooking activities at indoor leisure facilities such as PC bangs and kids cafes.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police announced on the 6th that from February 4 to 14, a two-week period during which the use of indoor leisure facilities increased due to winter vacation and cold weather, they conducted investigations targeting 360 indoor leisure facilities selling cooked foods, including PC bangs, screen golf courses, and kids cafes, and detected a total of 34 illegal activities.
Among the major cases uncovered, Screen Golf Course A in Gimpo City was caught providing cooked foods to customers with kitchen facilities without registering as a food service business.
PC Bang B in Seongnam City was found storing five types of products, including udon broth that was 11 months past its expiration date, together with normal ingredients without labeling them as ‘for disposal’ or ‘for training,’ resulting in a crackdown.
Results of the Intensive Investigation on Illegal Activities at Indoor Leisure Facilities Selling Prepared Foods by the Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police Unit
PC Bang C in Pyeongtaek City stored three types of sauces, including onion dressing, which require refrigeration below 10℃, on a room temperature shelf inside the kitchen facilities. Meanwhile, Kids Cafe D in Gwangju City was caught cooking and selling Chinese potatoes while displaying a country of origin sign in the store indicating the potatoes were from the United States.
Under the current Food Sanitation Act, if a food service business operates without registration, or violates business operator compliance by manufacturing, processing, cooking, selling, subdividing, transporting, displaying, or storing products or ingredients past their expiration date for sale, they are subject to imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.
Additionally, violations of standards related to the manufacturing, processing, use, cooking, or preservation of food can result in imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million KRW. False or misleading country of origin labeling under the Country of Origin Labeling Act can lead to imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.
Ki-do Gi, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police, stated, "Indoor leisure facilities had been operating food service businesses selling cooked foods without reporting to the competent authorities, leaving a blind spot in management. However, this investigation has served as an opportunity to prevent unfair business practices and improve food safety." He added, "We will continue to strengthen investigations into illegal activities within indoor leisure facilities so that residents can enjoy healthy leisure activities."
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