'Stuffy' Smoking in the Kitchen... Shocking Hygiene Conditions at an Incheon Galbitjip

Employees take turns smoking, photos exposed in opposite building
Designated non-smoking area in restaurant for over 10 years

Employees were caught smoking in the kitchen of a galbi restaurant in Incheon. The informant claimed that after smoking, the employees handled the meat without washing their hands.

On the 13th, JTBC's 'Sageonbanjang' revealed a photo taken inside the kitchen of a meat restaurant in Seo-gu, Incheon. The photo, taken from a building across the street, captured an employee smoking while preparing meat.

Photo by JTBC broadcast screen capture

The photo was taken by an informant working in the building opposite the galbi restaurant. The informant happened to witness the smoking scene while looking out the window. He said, "Two to three employees took turns smoking."

The photo shows an employee smoking in front of a tray piled high with meat.

The informant, who had dined at the restaurant a few months ago, said, "I was shocked and reported the restaurant to the district office's health department."

Attorney Baek Seong-moon stated, "Handling meat and serving it to customers with hands that have been smoking is a serious hygiene issue. If the restaurant owner knew about this behavior and neglected it, closure is justified; if they were unaware, the employees are causing significant damage to the business."

In August of last year, a franchise of a famous chicken chain caused controversy by delivering chicken fried together with cigarette butts. Due to public criticism at the time, the store owner eventually had to close down.

The designation of restaurants as non-smoking areas has been in place since July 2013, for over 10 years. At that time, smoking bans were implemented in restaurants, bars, and cafes larger than 150㎡, and in 2015, the ban was expanded to all restaurants, bars, and cafes.

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