Gyeonggi Province Special Prosecutor Uncovers 10 Illegal Kimchi and Kimjang Ingredient Manufacturing/Sales Establishments

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Nohun] Illegal food manufacturing and sales establishments that produced kimchi by mixing Chinese-origin red pepper powder with domestic-origin red pepper powder while labeling the country of origin as domestic have been uncovered by the Gyeonggi Province Special Prosecutor's Office.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Prosecutor's Office announced on the 18th that from October 18 to 29, it conducted investigations into 90 manufacturing and sales establishments of peak-season kimjang foods such as kimchi, red pepper powder, salted fish products, and minced garlic ahead of the kimjang season, and uncovered 11 illegal acts at a total of 10 establishments.

The violations included ▲3 cases of unlicensed business operations (business and change notifications) ▲5 cases of failure to meet in-house quality inspection obligations ▲3 cases of false country-of-origin labeling and misleading labeling practices for imported red pepper powder and similar products.

Looking at the major cases uncovered, a 'G' kimchi manufacturing and sales establishment located in Uiwang City manufactured baechu kimchi, total-kimchi, yeolmu kimchi, and kkakdugi in an unsanitary business location without notifying the relevant administrative agency since 2005, and was caught selling to final consumers.

An 'N' ready-made manufacturing and processing business located in Seongnam City mixed some Chinese-origin red pepper powder with domestic-origin red pepper powder to manufacture and sell kimchi since last year, labeling the country of origin of kimchi as 'domestic' at the entrance and displaying red pepper powder as both 'domestic' and 'China-origin' inside the establishment, thereby creating misleading country-of-origin labeling.

In particular, it was revealed that the kimchi was manufactured at a location other than the reported business site, and sales were conducted at the reported business site.

A 'D' food manufacturing company located in Gwangju City manufactured and sold kimchi and side dishes, but after commissioning and conducting in-house quality inspections on June 30 last year, failed to conduct in-house quality inspections on all manufactured products.

Finished products such as kimchi, pickled items, simmered items, and red pepper powder must undergo in-house quality inspections at least once every three months.

An 'R' food manufacturing company located in Suwon City was also confirmed to have failed to conduct in-house quality inspections since conducting tests on May 24 this year while manufacturing kimchi.

According to the Food Sanitation Act, operating a business without notification or change notification and violating in-house quality inspection obligations are each subject to imprisonment for not more than 3 years or fines of not more than 30 million won.

Under the Act on Country-of-Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products, false or misleading country-of-origin labeling is subject to imprisonment for not more than 7 years or fines of not more than 100 million won.

Yun Tae-wan, Head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Prosecutor's Office, stated, "As imports of kimchi and kimjang ingredients are increasing during the kimjang season, greater attention is required in hygiene and safety management. We plan to strictly punish the uncovered establishments in accordance with relevant regulations, and will do our best to secure safe food for provincial residents by strengthening enforcement against high-consumption food items in the future," he said.