14 Suspects Arrested for Selling Chinese Salt as Domestic Sun-Dried Salt

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Chunsu] On the 20th, the Muan Police Station in Jeonnam announced that they are investigating 14 people, including A (47), the representative of a salt wholesale company, and her husband B (51), on suspicion of violating the Act on the Labeling of Origin of Agricultural and Fishery Products.

They are suspected of renting an empty warehouse in an agro-industrial complex in Jeonnam for over a year since last year, repackaging 260 tons of Chinese salt as domestically produced sun-dried salt, and earning several hundred million won in illegal profits.

About 120 tons of Chinese salt seized at the scene is worth approximately 120 million won at market price.

Police investigations confirmed that the Chinese salt was repackaged as domestic sun-dried salt and distributed to salt fields and kimchi cabbage pickling factories around Haenam.

They disguised the salt as domestic sun-dried salt by using packaging from Shinancheon Salt, Haenam Flower Salt, and Baekjo Brand, which are considered major producers of sun-dried salt in Korea.

The police are conducting a follow-up investigation to determine if there is more Chinese salt distributed by them.

Yoon Hu, chief of the Muan Police Station, stated, “Deceiving the origin of food products is a serious breach of public trust,” and added, “Ahead of the kimchi-making season, we will continue to crack down to ensure the safety of the public’s food.”

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