Gyeonggi Province is conducting on-site consulting for the restaurant hygiene rating system, targeting general restaurants, rest area restaurants, and bakeries located in multi-use facilities such as airports and highway rest stops.
The hygiene rating system, overseen by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, evaluates restaurants based on 44 criteria regarding overall hygiene. Establishments are assigned one of three ratings: "Excellent," "Very Good," or "Good."
As of the end of March 2025, 9,011 establishments in Gyeonggi Province had been designated as hygiene-rated businesses, and the province plans to designate an additional 2,102 establishments this year.
This round of consulting focuses on areas with a high concentration of restaurants, including airports, KTX stations, highway rest stops, department stores, shopping malls, and apartment complex commercial areas.
Establishments that apply for the consulting service will receive free, customized support through on-site visits by consumer food hygiene inspectors affiliated with Gyeonggi Province. The support covers a wide range of topics, including storage and management of food ingredients, guidance on how to apply for the hygiene rating system, and application procedures.
Gyeonggi Province is conducting free on-site consulting for the restaurant hygiene rating system together with consumer food hygiene inspectors. Guidance poster. Provided by Gyeonggi Province.
Consumer food hygiene inspectors are individuals appointed by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, provincial governors, mayors, county heads, or district chiefs to perform duties under Article 22, Paragraph 1 of the Food Sanitation Act and to provide guidance on food hygiene and related matters.
Gyeonggi Province will select inspectors who have completed the restaurant hygiene rating evaluator training course organized by the Korea Agency of HACCP Accreditation and Services. These inspectors will be matched one-on-one with establishments wishing to obtain a hygiene rating, providing comprehensive education on the hygiene rating evaluation process and conducting hygiene level assessments.
Establishments designated as hygiene-rated businesses will receive several benefits, including: ▲food promotion fund loans of up to 30 million won ▲cleaning cost support of 700,000 won (for establishments designated for over one year) ▲exemption from hygiene-related inspections and entry for two years (except in cases of complaints or food poisoning incidents) ▲provision of a hygiene rating certificate and sign ▲display of hygiene rating information on Naver and delivery apps ▲support for hygiene supplies (varies by city and county).
Won Gongshik, head of the Food Safety Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We will actively support many restaurants in obtaining hygiene ratings through customized on-site consulting, so that the overall hygiene standards of restaurants in the province can be improved."
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