Drug Gimbap and Tteokbokki... Gyeongnam Province Urges Restaurants to Stop Using Drug-Related Terms

Gyeongsangnam-do has repeatedly urged restaurants in the province to refrain from using the word ‘mayak’ (meaning ‘drug’) in their business names and menus.

Gyeongnam Province recently pointed out that although drug addiction is a social problem, the word ‘mayak’ is being indiscriminately used in food to mean ‘so delicious it’s addictive’.

They explained that the normalized use of the term ‘mayak’ could lower the sense of caution about drugs among adolescents and instill incorrect perceptions.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Since May, the province has been promoting awareness and guidance to refrain from using drug-related terms at 768 food service establishments in the area.

When new food hygiene businesses register, if the word ‘mayak’ is included, they are required to change it to another name.

For existing businesses, on-site guidance is provided to encourage operators to voluntarily refrain from using the word ‘mayak’.

According to the province, 24 restaurants have changed the names of dishes that included the word ‘mayak’.

The province plans to continue ongoing promotion targeting establishments that use ‘mayak’ in their business names, menus, or dish names.

No Hyeyoung, Director of the Food and Drug Division, said, “If the word ‘mayak’ is used carelessly in everyday life, it can have a negative impact on children as well. We plan to continue promoting and guiding to raise awareness and encourage restraint in the indiscriminate use of drug-related terms.”

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