"Enjoy Dining Out with Peace of Mind"... Yeongju City Accepting Year-Round Applications for Restaurant Hygiene Rating System

Restaurants Rated 1 to 3 Stars Based on Hygiene Standards
Water Bill Discounts and Other Incentives Offered

Yeongju City has launched an initiative to create a safe dining environment for its citizens.

The Yeongju City Public Health Center (Director Kim Moonsoo) announced on January 20 that it is accepting applications year-round from restaurants wishing to participate in the Restaurant Hygiene Rating System to improve hygiene management standards.

The Restaurant Hygiene Rating System is overseen by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and evaluates the hygiene standards of general restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, assigning ratings accordingly. The evaluation covers a total of 44 items, including hygienic management of ingredients, cleanliness of kitchens and facilities, and hygiene management of staff.

Based on the evaluation results, restaurants are awarded one of three hygiene grades: Excellent (three stars), Very Good (two stars), or Good (one star).

Restaurants that receive a hygiene rating are provided with various administrative incentives, such as a 30% discount on water bills, support with waste bags, and provision of hygiene products, helping to ease the burden of hygiene management for business owners.

Currently, Yeongju City manages a total of 57 establishments as designated hygiene-rated restaurants and plans to continue identifying new participants to further vitalize the system.

Restaurants wishing to apply can fill out an application form on the Food Safety Korea website and submit it along with their business registration certificate. If online application is difficult, they may visit the Yeongju City Public Health Center in person with their business registration certificate.

Yeo Taehyun, Head of the Health and Hygiene Division at Yeongju City Public Health Center, stated, "The Hygiene Rating System is an effective program for encouraging restaurants to voluntarily strengthen hygiene management and for creating a trustworthy dining environment for citizens. We hope to see active participation from many food service establishments."

For more information about the Restaurant Hygiene Rating System, please visit the Food Safety Korea website or contact the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, or the Food Policy Team at the Health and Hygiene Division of Yeongju City Public Health Center.

Restaurant Hygiene Rating Information Notice.