Gyeonggi Province to Crack Down on Origin Labeling of Napa Cabbage and Seasonings Ahead of Kimchi-Making Season

Gyeonggi Province will conduct an origin labeling inspection on napa cabbage kimchi and seasoning vegetables for kimchi from the 17th to the 28th of this month, in line with the kimchi-making season.

During this inspection, Gyeonggi Province will focus on cracking down on false or missing origin labeling of high-demand items such as napa cabbage kimchi, salted napa cabbage, red pepper powder, and garlic. The authorities will also target cases where foreign products are falsely labeled as domestic, or where products are misrepresented as being from well-known domestic regions.

The main targets of the inspection are traditional markets, large supermarkets, and fish sauce markets, where consumers frequently purchase kimchi ingredients. The inspection will be conducted jointly by Gyeonggi Province, city officials, and honorary inspectors.

Gyeonggi Province will conduct an origin labeling inspection on napa cabbages and other items related to the kimchi-making season at traditional markets from the 17th to the 28th of this month. Photo of the poster

For businesses found in violation, Gyeonggi Province will impose penalties in accordance with the "Act on Labeling of Origin of Agricultural and Fishery Products." False labeling may result in imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million won, while failure to label the origin may result in an administrative fine of up to 10 million won.

Bae Soyoung, Director of Agricultural and Food Distribution at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "With the kimchi-making season upon us, we will do our utmost to ensure thorough origin management so that residents can purchase domestic agricultural and marine products with confidence." She urged, "Distributors and sellers should faithfully fulfill their obligation to label the origin, and consumers are encouraged to check the origin when making purchases."