[Summary] A Rat Falls from Ceiling Pipe into Side Dish... Company Apologizes Deeply

Official Apology Statement: "Sincerely Apologize to Customers Affected"
"Investigating Cause of Incident... Sorry for Delayed Apology"

The official apology statement released on the 10th by the franchise company "Gajang Matitneun Jokbal," which was involved in the so-called 'Jokbal Rat' controversy. / Photo by Internet Homepage Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The franchise company "Gajang Matitneun Jokbal," which recently faced controversy over a live rat found in delivery food, dubbed the "Jokbal Rat" incident, has issued an official apology.

In an apology posted on its official website under the name of CEO Choi Jongwan, Gajang Matitneun Jokbal stated, "As the representative of the company, I deeply acknowledge the great responsibility due to negligence in store management regarding the incident that occurred at our store (Sangam Digital Branch)." They added, "Once again, we sincerely bow our heads and apologize to the affected customer and all customers who have loved our brand."

They continued, "We should have immediately informed customers of the incident's circumstances and apologized, but since such an incident is not something that can easily happen in a dining establishment and considering various possibilities, we had to investigate the cause of the incident," adding, "We also apologize for the delayed apology."

The Jokbal Rat controversy arose after MBC's "News Desk" reported on the matter on the 1st. According to the broadcast, around 10 p.m. on the 25th of last month, an office worker working late in an office in Seoul ordered jokbal delivery and discovered a live rat in the side dishes.

The video sent by the office worker showed a rat wriggling among the seasoned chive side dish. The side dish container was sealed with plastic, making it unlikely that the rat entered during delivery.

The informant immediately complained to the jokbal restaurant where the order was placed, and the branch promised compensation including company dinner expenses and medical bills. However, they stated they "did not know" how the rat got inside.

Later, while the "News Desk" reporters visited the restaurant and interviewed in the kitchen, a rat was caught on camera passing through the kitchen. The informant formally reported the incident to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) by sending the rat's carcass found in the food, and following the MFDS request, the local district office conducted an on-site investigation on the 30th of last month.

On the 1st, MBC's "News Desk" reported on the controversy surrounding rat jokbal. / Photo by MBC Broadcast Capture

Meanwhile, on the 10th, the MFDS announced that regarding the Jokbal Rat controversy, it confirmed that the rat infiltrated the restaurant's side dish container and is investigating the restaurant owner for violating the Food Sanitation Act.

According to the MFDS, CCTV footage from the restaurant captured a baby rat about 5 to 6 cm long moving through the restaurant's ceiling ventilation pipes and falling into the chive side dish container about 20 minutes before the food delivery.

The MFDS also found that despite discovering signs of rats such as droppings at the branch, the restaurant continued operating in an unsanitary environment, leading to administrative sanctions and orders for facility repairs and renovations.

However, tests conducted on six cooking utensils used at the restaurant, including dishcloths, scissors, and tongs, for E. coli and Salmonella bacteria showed all met inspection standards.

The restaurant is currently closed, has undergone pest control and disinfection by a professional company, and has been repairing facilities including the ceiling since the 5th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.