Ahead of Kimjang Season, Comprehensive Inspection of Origin Labels on Baechu Kimchi and Red Pepper Powder

The National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service announced on the 1st that it will conduct a comprehensive inspection of origin labeling on napa cabbage kimchi and kimchi seasoning vegetables from the 6th to December 8th (33 days) in preparation for the kimchi-making season.

This inspection will focus on napa cabbage kimchi, salted napa cabbage, red pepper powder, garlic, ginger, onions, and other items in high demand during the kimchi-making season, targeting acts such as selling foreign products disguised as domestic products or falsely labeling domestic products as originating from famous domestic regions.

During the inspection period, the agency plans to deploy special judicial police officers and honorary monitors to pre-identify distribution routes for each item such as napa cabbage kimchi and red pepper powder by utilizing supply and demand status, price trends of kimchi vegetables, and information from the imported agricultural products distribution tracking system. They will then conduct focused inspections mainly on kimchi and salted napa cabbage manufacturers and sellers, import raw material users, online sales companies, and general restaurants.

Additionally, using a cyber inspection team, they will monitor online intermediary sales sites, shopping malls, and home shopping channels, and conduct on-site inspections mainly targeting companies suspected of origin labeling violations.

Companies found violating the law will face criminal penalties (up to 7 years imprisonment or fines up to 100 million KRW) for false labeling under the Act on the Labeling of Origin of Agricultural and Fishery Products, and fines (up to 10 million KRW) for failure to label.

Park Seong-woo, head of the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, urged, "With the kimchi-making season approaching and prices of major vegetables rising, there is a possibility of increased illegal distribution of agricultural products. Consumers should always check the origin when purchasing agricultural products, and if there is no origin label or suspicion of false labeling, please report it through the Illegal Distribution Reporting Center or the agency’s website."

Cabbages are displayed on the sales counter at Hanaro Mart Yangjae Branch in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

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