'SPC Dunkin Tip Video' Manipulation Controversy

Suspicious Tip from a KCTU Official, Not a Facility Line Worker

CCTV footage inside Dunkin' Donuts Anyang factory.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] A video alleging that products of Dunkin' Donuts, operated by SPC Group, were manufactured in unsanitary conditions has become embroiled in controversy over manipulation. The person in the video is known to be the head of the Dunkin' branch affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which is currently in conflict with SPC Group. SPC has requested a police investigation, stating that there are signs of organizational involvement in the video.

"Apologized for 'Unclean Manufacturing Plant' but CCTV Reveals a Twist"

According to SPC Group on the 1st, on the 29th of last month, KBS reported a video received as a tip regarding the donut manufacturing facilities at the Dunkin' Donuts Anyang factory. In the video, the ventilation system in the production site was covered with grease, and yellowish substances were dripping onto the flour dough placed below. Following consumer criticism, the company issued an apology under the name of Do Se-ho, CEO of BR Korea, stating, "We apologize for causing concern to many people. We will do our best to produce and supply safe products through thorough hygiene management."

However, after reviewing the factory's CCTV, SPC discovered that on July 28th, an on-site employee secretly filmed using a pen-shaped small camera on an unmanned production line. The employee in the video appeared to deliberately try to drop grease from the equipment onto the dough or scrape it off with a rubber spatula. This employee was not assigned to the production line at that time. It is known that this employee is a union official affiliated with the KCTU.

Currently, the KCTU Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity has been striking against SPC workplaces for a month. As public opinion has not been favorable to the KCTU regarding the strike, suspicions have arisen that the manipulated video was submitted to sway public opinion in favor of the KCTU. Since franchise owners have been complaining about sales losses due to the strike, SPC Group has stated that if the video manipulation is proven true, they may hold the employee legally responsible.

Nonetheless, separate from the video manipulation controversy, it seems difficult for SPC Group to avoid criticism for producing products in unsanitary environments. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducted an unannounced inspection of BR Korea's Anyang factory on the 29th and 30th of last month and confirmed that some facilities were not properly maintained. They requested administrative action from the relevant local government for violations of the Food Sanitation Act.

The Persistent Feud Between SPC and KCTU

The conflict between SPC Group and the KCTU has repeated over recent years. The background of the conflict lies in the existence of multiple unions. In 2017, Paris Baguette became a multi-union system when a separate union affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) was established alongside the bakers' union. Since then, the KCTU has annually claimed that SPC Group is suppressing unions by exploiting the multi-union system.

In April last year, the KCTU-affiliated Textile and Food Workers' Union filed a complaint against SPC Group affiliate Paris Croissant for unfair labor practices. The union alleged in the complaint that "some members who belonged to the existing FKTU-affiliated union at Paris Croissant resigned last month and joined the newly formed Textile and Food Workers' Union branch, and the company gave them personnel disadvantages."

The ongoing strike by the KCTU Cargo Solidarity for the past month is also rooted in inter-union conflicts. SPC Group stated, "This strike issue is between the transport company and the cargo union, so it is difficult for us to intervene directly." An SPC representative said, "We will thoroughly hold the Cargo Solidarity accountable for violating the cargo transport service contract, which threatens the business and survival rights of the company and franchisees. Regarding the video manipulation suspicion, we will respond after reviewing the police investigation results."

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