Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Investigation into Illegal Activities at Delivery Food Specialty Stores

Gyeonggi Province will conduct a focused investigation into illegal activities targeting delivery-only restaurants from the 10th to the 21st of this month.

This investigation is in response to the increasing demand for delivery food due to the rise in single-person households and the normalization of non-face-to-face consumption.

On the 9th, Gyeonggi Province announced plans to conduct intensive inspections on 360 delivery-specialized restaurants, including Chinese cuisine, Jokbal (pig's trotters), and chicken, focusing on ▲ violations of business registration ▲ violations of business operator compliance ▲ violations of food handling standards and specifications ▲ false labeling of origin.

Gyeonggi Province is launching a focused investigation into illegal activities at delivery food specialty stores. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

Under the current 'Food Sanitation Act,' if important changes such as business area are not reported, or if expired products or raw materials are subdivided, transported, displayed, stored, or sold for manufacturing, processing, cooking, or sales purposes in violation of business operator compliance, penalties include imprisonment for up to 3 years or fines up to 30 million KRW.

Additionally, violations of standards related to manufacturing, processing, usage, cooking, and preservation methods of food can result in imprisonment for up to 5 years or fines up to 50 million KRW. The 'Origin Labeling Act' imposes penalties of up to 7 years imprisonment or fines up to 100 million KRW for false labeling of origin.

Gi Do, Chief of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "Delivery-only restaurants may be vulnerable to hygiene management due to the absence of customer seating and non-open cooking spaces, which is why this investigation is being conducted," adding, "We will prevent illegal activities in delivery-only restaurants in advance to create a food environment where residents can purchase with confidence."