Official Statement Released on the 15th Website
"Strict Action Against Employee Involved in Drinking Party Interview"
"Organizational Innovation Including Audits"
"Overhaul of Food Safety and Hygiene Management Systems"
The Born Korea, led by CEO Baek Jong-won, announced that it will "change everything" regarding the recent controversies, including the drinking party interviews with female applicants.
On the 15th, The Born Korea released an official statement on its website, saying, "We feel a heavy responsibility for a series of issues, including inappropriate behavior by employees belonging to regional projects and hygiene management at festival sites," and added, "We are accelerating fundamental innovation across organizational culture and work systems."
Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, is apologizing to shareholders at the first regular general meeting held on the 28th at Space Share Gangnam Station Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Recently, an audio recording of a Born Korea executive conducting a drinking party interview with a female applicant was released online, causing a stir. The recording revealed an executive pretending to conduct an interview but instead calling the female applicant to a separate drinking party and making inappropriate remarks, which drew widespread criticism.
The company explained, "We prioritize ethical management and food safety above all and are undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of internal systems and external sites," adding, "We will devote all efforts to restoring customer trust through painful organizational and work innovations."
First, the employee involved in the drinking party interview controversy will be immediately excluded from work, and strict measures will be taken based on the results of an investigation by an external agency. The company also promised to implement intensive training programs to instill ethics and a sense of responsibility among all executives and employees.
Additionally, a dedicated audit and risk management team will be established directly under the CEO, and a public relations team responsible for external communication will be newly created.
Regarding various hygiene controversies, a dedicated department overseeing food safety, hygiene, and quality control has been immediately activated, and external experts have been added to redesign all on-site processes from the ground up. The company plans to strengthen safety certification procedures for cooking equipment and the entire food processing process.
Concerning allegations that raw meat was left at room temperature at the 2024 Hongseong Barbecue Festival, the company explained that refrigeration and freezing transportation and storage facilities will be completely improved to establish a regional festival platform that meets safety standards.
The company stated, "Beyond apologies and explanations, we will fulfill our responsibilities as a listed company and approach innovation with a desperate determination to restore trust," emphasizing, "We will thoroughly improve all the wrong and insufficient issues that have been intensively raised this year and will definitely be reborn anew."
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