Violation of origin labeling for Chuseok gifts and offerings detected at 373 locations... napa cabbage kimchi 'most common'

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology announced on the 16th that it conducted a mass inspection before the Chuseok holiday, focusing on gifts and offerings, and discovered 373 businesses violating origin labeling regulations.

Of the businesses caught, 198 that falsely labeled the origin will be criminally charged, and after internal investigations, they will be handed over to the prosecution.

For the 175 businesses that did not label the origin, a fine of 38,260,000 won was imposed.

The number of violating items was 410, with napa cabbage kimchi being the most common at 99 items, followed by pork 59 items, tofu 44 items, chicken 28 items, and beef 25 items.

The Agricultural Science and Technology Institute deployed special judicial police and honorary monitors to inspect 17,364 manufacturing, processing, mail-order, and retail businesses for selling foreign products disguised as domestic products or falsely claiming them as special local products.

Park Soon-yeon, the head of the Agricultural Science and Technology Institute, said, "We plan to thoroughly inspect the origin labeling of napa cabbage, red pepper powder, garlic, and other seasonings as the kimchi-making season approaches," and added, "We also plan to strengthen inspections on livestock products such as goats, whose imports have recently increased."

ykim@yna.co.kr