Lee Kyungsil Addresses High-Priced Egg Controversy: "Shell Code Unrelated to Quality Grade"

Directly Addresses High-Priced Egg Controversy via Social Media
Wooaran Official Sales Website Currently Inaccessible

Comedian Kyungsil Lee (age 59) has issued an official statement addressing the controversy over the high price of her egg brand "Wooaran." On November 19, Lee posted a lengthy message on her social media, apologizing by saying, "I failed to fully understand the feelings of consumers." However, she clarified, "Although the eggs are classified as Type 4 by shell code, we produce high-quality eggs," explaining that she is not selling low-quality eggs at a high price.

Lee stated, "It is true that 30 Type 4 eggs cost 15,000 won, which is expensive, but we have worked and researched to ensure the price reflects the value," adding, "I have always prioritized quality for Wooaran, believing that freshness is the most important factor for eggs." According to Lee, the selling price of Wooaran eggs is set based on a quality unit called Haugh Unit (HU), and as of today, Wooaran's HU is 105.9, which is 47% higher than the 1st grade eggs (72HU) sold in the market. She explained, "Egg quality grades are finally determined as +1, 1, 2, and 3, and the shell code indicates the breeding environment, not the egg's quality grade," emphasizing, "The reason Wooaran maintains a high price is due to differences in ingredients and breeding methods."

Lee's side particularly stressed that Wooaran invests significant costs in maintaining the quality and freshness of the eggs by feeding the hens high-priced ingredients such as turmeric and cordyceps, and by managing farm hygiene and disease control. Lee added, "Through this incident, I realized that consumers judge eggs as good or bad based on the shell code (breeding environment)," and expressed her hope that "it will be properly explained that Type 4 eggs are not always of low quality, and that there can be significant quality differences even within the same Type 4 breeding environment." She concluded, "As my family, relatives, and friends now all eat Wooaran, I will continue to maintain the original commitment to quality."

What Is the Egg Shell Code That Sparked the Price Controversy?

The company selling Wooaran, Freshtege, was founded by Lee's son, Son Boseung. In recent days, some netizens have criticized Wooaran's price, arguing that it is similar to or even higher than "antibiotic-free" or "animal welfare" eggs, despite having a "Type 4" shell code, accusing the celebrity of price gouging.

The egg shell code refers to a number indicating the breeding environment of the farm where the eggs are produced. Type 1 denotes free-range (pasture-raised), Type 2 refers to indoor floor-raised, Type 3 indicates improved cages (currently being expanded to 0.075 square meters per hen), and Type 4 refers to eggs produced in conventional cages (0.05 square meters per hen). The densely packed and cramped cages, commonly known as "battery cages," allow for mass production of eggs at low cost, resulting in cheaper prices. In contrast, eggs from Type 1 environments, where hens can roam freely on pasture, and Type 2 environments, where hens can move freely between cages and barns, are called "animal welfare" eggs and are priced higher due to higher production costs.

In response, Freshtege explained, "Even if the shell code is Type 4, these are high-quality eggs produced by hens fed with good ingredients." However, as the controversy continues, the company's website and official online store are currently inaccessible. Until the previous day, all menus including company and product information and announcements were accessible. However, as the "Wooaran" price controversy escalated and complaints flooded the website, it is presumed that the company temporarily closed the site due to the pressure.