Grade 1 Hanwoo Disguised as 1++... Gyeongnam Provincial Special Judicial Police Crack Down on Livestock Product Grade Fraudulent Businesses

"I ordered a 1++ grade Hanwoo gift set, but no matter how I look at it, the quality seems low."

The Gyeongnam Provincial Special Judicial Police received a request around last Chuseok from a resident for an investigation into the grading of livestock products.

According to the provincial special judicial police, Mr. A, in his 60s, ordered a 1++ grade Hanwoo gift set from a well-known livestock product store in the province as a Chuseok gift for his prospective in-laws ahead of his son's wedding.

Mr. A purchased two or three sets, including some for his family, but was unable to hide his suspicion upon seeing the delivered products.

Although he is not a meat expert, he found it difficult to believe the products were 1++ grade and thought the quality appeared low.

Mr. A requested the Gyeongnam special judicial police to verify the livestock product grade, and the investigation revealed that the products were 1st grade Hanwoo sold at 25% less than the price at the store where they were purchased.

Gyeongnam Provincial Special Judicial Police are inspecting livestock products sold in stores.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

The provincial special judicial police pointed out that cases of misrepresenting beef grades during gift orders have been increasing recently.

Livestock products for gifts are graded and sold according to meat quality, but since recipients often do not know specific information such as the cut or grade of the meat, this is exploited to deliver lower-quality products than those actually ordered.

With the amendment of the law related to prohibition of improper solicitation and acceptance of money and valuables, known as the Kim Young-ran Act, on August 30, raising the gift limit to 150,000 KRW normally and 300,000 KRW during holidays, the proportion of expensive livestock gifts has increased. Along with recent inflation trends and avoidance of seafood, concerns about illegal distribution and sales of livestock products have also been raised.

Gyeongnam Provincial Special Judicial Police are inspecting livestock product distribution companies.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

The provincial special judicial police announced that from October 24 to November 24, they will conduct a planned crackdown on about 40 livestock product handling businesses in the province to address illegal activities in livestock product distribution.

The inspection will focus on ▲selling imported livestock products disguised as domestic ▲unfair labeling or advertising of meat ▲manufacturing or selling livestock products without permission or registration ▲manufacturing or selling livestock products that are harmful or violate standards and specifications ▲and compliance with other food business operator obligations.

Kim Eun-nam, head of the Social Disaster Division, said, "Some unscrupulous operators who take unfair profits at the expense of residents' food safety are causing misunderstandings even among legitimate businesses," adding, "We will spare no effort to minimize illegal businesses that infringe on residents' right to know and engage in unfair trade."

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