As Kimchi season approaches, the Gangwon Agricultural Authorities conduct a thorough inspection of the origin labels for napa cabbages.

(Chuncheon=Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Tae-hyun = The Gangwon Branch of the National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology announced on the 28th that it will conduct a mass inspection of the origin labeling for napa cabbage kimchi and kimchi vegetables seasoning until December 5 to meet the kimchi season.

This inspection will focus on the sale of foreign products disguised as domestic products or falsely labeled as coming from famous domestic regions, targeting items such as napa cabbage kimchi, pickled napa cabbage, red pepper powder, garlic, and ginger, which are in high demand during the kimchi season.

The Gangwon Branch of the National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology will deploy special judicial police officers and honorary monitors to inspect manufacturing and sales companies, mail-order companies, and general restaurants for napa cabbage kimchi, utilizing information such as supply and demand conditions, price trends, and import agricultural product distribution management system information.

In addition, the Cyber Inspection Team will be used to monitor online mail-order intermediary sites, shopping malls, and home shopping, and on-site inspections will be conducted on companies suspected of origin violations.

An inspection of the origin of black goats, whose demand has recently surged, will also be conducted concurrently.

Companies found in violation will be subject to criminal penalties if they have falsely labeled the origin of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products according to the law, and a fine will be imposed if the origin is not labeled.

Lee Young-gu, Director of the Gangwon Branch of the National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, said, "There is a possibility that illegal distribution of major kimchi raw materials will increase as the kimchi season approaches," and urged consumers to check the origin when purchasing agricultural and food products and to report any suspicions of false or missing origin labels to the Unfair Distribution Reporting Center.

taetae@yna.co.kr