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Busan Metropolitan City Launches Special Enforcement on Food Safety for the Lunar New Year Holiday

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Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Heong-joon announced that the City will conduct a special planned investigation into food safety for the Lunar New Year holiday from January 19 to February 13 (four weeks).

This investigation will broadly examine illegal and unsanitary practices that may occur throughout the entire manufacturing and distribution process of foods heavily consumed during the holiday season. It is intended to ensure food safety and prevent unlawful activities.

In particular, the City will focus inspections on businesses that manufacture and sell foods for holiday rites, ready-to-eat convenience foods, sesame oil, health foods, and other holiday-demand items, as well as processors and retailers of livestock products such as Korean beef and LA-style short ribs.

Targets will be selected based on an overall assessment of risk factors, including businesses with prior violations, those suspected of poor sanitary conditions, and those reported through complaints or tips related to country-of-origin labeling or food labeling/advertising. The City plans to proactively inspect businesses where country-of-origin violations or inadequate hygiene management are of particular concern.

Key investigative areas include false or misleading country-of-origin labeling; violations of food handling standards and specifications; labeling and advertising practices that could lead consumers to believe a product has preventive or therapeutic effects against disease; and the use of ingredients such as unlabeled products or products past their use-by date. On-site checks will be combined with testing by specialized institutions to further strengthen food safety management.

If illegal activities are identified during this planned investigation, the City will take strict action in accordance with relevant laws, including criminal prosecution and notification to competent authorities.

For false or misleading country-of-origin labeling, penalties under the Act on Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products include imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine of up to KRW 1 billion. Violations of food handling standards and specifications are punishable under the Food Sanitation Act by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to KRW 50 million. Unfair labeling or advertising of food as having disease-preventive or therapeutic effects is punishable under the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods by imprisonment for up to ten years or a fine of up to KRW 1 billion.

Meanwhile, the City’s Special Judicial Police Division is actively receiving reports from the public. Reports of related illegal activities may be made to the Food Investigation Team (051-888-3091, 3096).

Mayor Park Heong-joon said, “We planned this investigation to ensure food safety and prevent unlawful activities so that residents can consume food with confidence during the Lunar New Year holiday.” He added, “We will continue to do our utmost to strengthen food safety management through sustained on-site inspections to eradicate illegal food crimes that repeatedly occur during specific periods such as major holidays.”