Chef of Jokbal Restaurant Who Washed Feet with Scrubbing Pad Fined 10 Million Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The former head chef of a jokbal restaurant in Seocho-gu, Seoul, who sparked controversy for unsanitary food ingredient management, such as rubbing his feet with a scrubber used to clean radishes, was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won in the first trial.

On the afternoon of the 10th, Judge Chae Heein of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9 sentenced former head chef A (53, male), who was indicted for violating the Food Sanitation Act, to this fine. The restaurant owner B (66, male), who was also indicted, was fined 8 million won.

Judge Chae criticized, "The defendants' actions harmed the public's health and caused distrust in food. The social repercussions are very significant, causing damage to other dining establishments that comply with related standards, thus there is a great need for prevention of recurrence and strict punishment."

Earlier, A was prosecuted for washing radishes in water where he had soaked his feet and rubbing the soles of his feet with a scrubber while working at a jokbal restaurant in Seocho-gu last July. A video capturing these actions spread on social networking services (SNS), escalating the controversy.

B was indicted for violating storage standards for ingredients such as frozen jokbal and using sauces past their expiration date in cooking.

At the final hearing, A stated, "I am very sorry for causing social outrage," and "I am atoning for causing great harm to the (jokbal restaurant) owner." B admitted most of the charges but argued that jokbal is a refrigerated food and thus does not violate the Food Sanitation Act. Judge Chae found all their charges to be guilty.

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