Famous Chef-Endorsed "Grade 1 Hanwoo" Found to Contain Dairy Cow DNA... Betrayal of Home Shopping

Over 250,000 Sold in 2 Years and 6 Months: 'Hanwoo Bulgogi'
Public Home Shopping Failed to Notify for Over a Month Despite Knowing
80 Cases of 'Nonconformity' Including Defects and Contamination in 3 Years

It was recently revealed that a product sold as "Grade 1 Hanwoo" by Gongyoung Home Shopping, a public institution under the government, contained dairy cow meat. Despite knowing this fact, the home shopping company did not inform buyers for over a month.

Hanwoo Bulgogi Public Home Shopping Sales Broadcast. It was later revealed that the product contained mixed dairy cow meat.
[Photo by Gongyeong Home Shopping, SBS broadcast screen capture]

On the 18th, Kwon Myung-ho, a member of the People Power Party, stated on his Facebook, "DNA of the 'dairy cow type' was detected in Hanwoo products from Company A sold by Gongyoung Home Shopping, an agency under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups," adding, "Gongyoung Home Shopping immediately stopped selling and broadcasting the product."

Company A's Hanwoo product is a signature item of Gongyoung Home Shopping, advertised by a famous chef, and has sold over 250,000 units in the past two years and six months.

According to an interview with Representative Kwon reported by SBS, sample analysis conducted by Gongyoung Home Shopping in early last month before the Chuseok holiday detected 'dairy cow type' DNA in Company A's Hanwoo product.

Gongyoung Home Shopping immediately halted sales and broadcasts of the product. However, despite about 13,000 sets of products made on days when dairy cow meat was mixed being sold, Gongyoung Home Shopping did not notify buyers for over a month.

When the controversy arose, Gongyoung Home Shopping explained, "Notification was delayed as we were investigating the circumstances and preparing follow-up measures," and stated, "We will proceed with refunds for products sold from August 28 to September 5."

They also added that they are considering introducing a "one-strike-out system," which would terminate contracts with manufacturers if problems occur.

Test report of Korean beef bulgogi sold on Public Home Shopping.
[Photo by SBS broadcast screen capture]

A representative from Company A explained, "Once the meat is cut, it is hard to distinguish," and said, "It seems that about 50 kg of dairy cow meat was mixed into the Hanwoo product during the process of thawing and distributing frozen beef."

Previously, it was revealed that in the past three years, there have been 80 cases of products sold by Gongyoung Home Shopping being judged as 'unsuitable' due to defects and contamination during surprise inspections. In 2022, there was controversy over Hansung Food, a subsidiary led by master Kim Soon-ja, manufacturing kimchi with defective ingredients, which led to the exclusion of Hansung Food's kimchi sales from the programming.

Representative Kwon emphasized, "Since consumers who trusted and purchased from the public institution Gongyoung Home Shopping may suffer damages, I will demand thorough audits along with drastic countermeasures."

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