Cheongju City to Provide Up to 2 Million Won for Replacing Signs Containing "Mayak"

Up to 2 Million Won for Sign Changes, 500,000 Won for Menu Updates
Ongoing Concerns Over "Mayak" Expressions... Law Revised Last Year

Starting on May 26, Cheongju City will provide financial support for businesses that change their signs or menus containing the word "mayak" (meaning "narcotics" or "drug").

According to Yonhap News on May 24, Cheongju City will offer up to 2 million won for changing business signs and up to 500,000 won for changing menus, respectively.

Business owners wishing to change their signs or menus can apply by submitting the application form along with relevant documents, such as their business registration certificate and an estimate, to the city's Hygiene Policy Division.

This initiative is in accordance with the revised Food Labeling and Advertising Act, which has been in effect since July 2024. The law recommends refraining from using expressions related to narcotics or similar terms in advertisements.

Currently, it has been confirmed that 12 businesses in Cheongju are using signs that include drug-related terms. The city plans to send information about the program and application forms to these businesses by mail.

The photo is not directly related to the content of the article. Pixabay

There have been ongoing concerns that the excessive use of the term "mayak" in food names or business names, such as "Mayak Gimbap" or "Mayak Tteokbokki," may cause younger generations to take the issue of drugs lightly.

In response, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced at a meeting with local governments in May 2023 that it would actively recommend that food business operators and restaurant owners refrain from using the word "mayak" in their business names or product names when submitting business registration forms or processed food manufacturing reports to local authorities.

Subsequently, in December of the same year, the National Assembly passed 11 revised bills, including the amendment to the Food Labeling and Advertising Act, providing a legal basis for recommending that such expressions not be used.

As a result of these revisions, local governments can now support the costs for business owners who wish to change existing signs or advertisements containing drug-related terms.

Although local governments have launched guidance campaigns to discourage the use of "mayak" in restaurant names, some businesses expressed reluctance, citing the costs involved in changing signs. In response, local governments requested that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety establish guidelines or provide legal grounds to support such costs.

Earlier this month, Anyang City became the first in the nation to implement a program providing support for the replacement of signs, menus, and packaging for food hygiene businesses using the term "mayak" in their signage or food names.