Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Illegal Activities in Food Manufacturing and Processing Businesses During Chuseok Season

The Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police Unit will launch a focused crackdown on illegal activities at Chuseok seasonal food manufacturing and processing businesses starting from the 28th of this month.

Gyeonggi Province is stepping up inspections of gift and seasonal product manufacturers ahead of Chuseok.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 22nd that from the 28th of this month to the 8th of next month, it will conduct inspections of 360 related manufacturing and processing businesses to ensure the safety of Chuseok holiday gifts and ritual items.

The main inspection items include ▲ storing or using products past their expiration date for cooking or sales purposes ▲ manufacturing, processing, or using products in violation of food preservation standards and specifications for sale or with intent to sell ▲ falsification of the origin of raw materials in finished products, among others.

According to the current Food Sanitation Act, violations such as manufacturing, processing, cooking, selling, subdividing, transporting, displaying, or storing products or food past their expiration date or their raw materials for sale purposes are punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW. Violations of food preservation standards and specifications can result in up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 million KRW. Additionally, under the Origin Labeling Act, false or misleading labeling of origin can lead to up to 7 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

The Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare plans to seize illegal food products found during inspections of seasonal foods and will also pursue criminal charges for intentional illegal activities. They intend to track down related manufacturers to completely block the distribution and sale of hazardous foods.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare in Gyeonggi Province, stated, "This investigation was planned to conduct preemptive inspections of foods that see increased consumption during the Chuseok holiday to ensure safe food supply to residents." He added, "Illegal activities that threaten food safety will be strictly punished according to relevant laws."

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