Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) will conduct a special inspection to check whether agricultural, livestock, and fishery products for ancestral rites and gifts are labeled with their country of origin until September 30 in preparation for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. This inspection is a measure designed to ensure that citizens can safely purchase holiday goods.
This special inspection is particularly focused on seafood and other fresh produce that are at high risk of violating country of origin labeling, and the inspection targets are broadly set to include manufacturers and sellers, restaurants, traditional markets, mail-order sales, and instant food sales.
 [Korean Today] Panoramic view of Uijeongbu City Hall © Reporter Eunyoung Kang |
The items to be inspected include meat such as beef, pork, and chicken, whose consumption is expected to surge ahead of the holiday, as well as agricultural, livestock, and marine products such as fruit baskets, jujubes, dried persimmons, chestnuts, bracken, red beans (ingredients for songpyeon), pollack, cod, squid, croaker, red sea bream, and octopus.
During the inspection period, we will thoroughly check whether the country of origin is indicated based on the date of sale, whether there is any double indication that may cause confusion, and the status of each item’s classification and storage in a separate compartment. To this end, public officials and honorary inspectors of the country of origin will make surprise visits to the site to conduct inspections, and will also monitor electronic media (online markets, delivery apps, etc.).
Uijeongbu City plans to impose a maximum sentence of up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won for false indication of origin, and a penalty of at least 50,000 won and up to 10 million won for not indicating origin at all. In particular, if the country of origin is falsely indicated more than twice within 5 years, the offender may be subject to a minimum sentence of 1 year and up to 10 years in prison or a fine of 5 million won and up to 150 million won.
Choi Hyun-mi, head of the Urban Agriculture Division, emphasized, “Chuseok is an important holiday where families gather and share food, so it is important to provide safe food,” and “We will continue to do our best to ensure the health and safety of citizens.”
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