West Sea Coast Guard Establishes 'Food Safety' Measures Ahead of Chuseok Holiday

Special Crackdown on Seafood for Ancestral Rites and Gifts
Task Force to Operate Until October 10

Exterior view of the West Sea Coast Guard Office building. Provided by West Sea Coast Guard

The West Sea Coast Guard announced on September 23 that it will conduct a special crackdown until October 10 to ensure the safe purchase of seafood and other foods for ancestral rites and gifts ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

This special crackdown will be carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, local governments, and civic groups. The focus will be on seafood markets, large supermarkets, home shopping channels, and online retailers. The authorities plan to intensively inspect for illegal activities that threaten food safety, such as the false labeling of origin for seafood products intended for gifts or ancestral rites (including yellow corvina, croaker, fish roe, etc.).

False labeling of origin is punishable by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won. Failure to indicate the origin can result in a fine ranging from 50,000 won to 10 million won.

In particular, the authorities will take strong legal action against large-scale smuggling aimed at profiting from seasonal price differences, illegal distribution of expired or substandard food products, the issuance of false certificates of origin by importers or manufacturers, and distribution order disruptions such as hoarding or cornering the market.

A representative from the West Sea Coast Guard stated, "We will focus our crackdown on food-related violations and origin fraud crimes that target the Chuseok holiday period and undermine seafood consumption."