Is the Samgyeopsal Received from Hometown Love Donation a Proper Return Gift?

Controversy Over 'Samgyeopsal' Received as Hometown Love Donation Gift
"Place the Quality Meat on Top and the Fatty Part Below"
Michuhol-gu "No Complaints Received Regarding the Gift"

As the Hometown Love Donation Program, which allows donors to contribute to their hometowns and receive thank-you gifts, has been implemented nationwide starting this year, complaints have arisen from donors who received very poor-quality thank-you gifts, sparking controversy.

Photo of Samgyeopsal received by Mr. A after donating in Michuhol-gu, Incheon.
[Photo by Online Community]

On the 26th, a post titled "It might be better if Incheon Michuhol-gu does not participate in the Hometown Love Donation Program" was uploaded on online communities. The author, Mr. A, stated, "Michuhol-gu gave pork belly and pork neck, so I donated and used the points to receive the thank-you gift," adding, "The pork neck was mostly lean meat and edible, but the pork belly came like that, so I had to cut off and throw away two-thirds of it."

In the photos attached to the post, most of the meat was composed of white fat. Mr. A said, "The funny thing is that they placed the parts that looked okay on top and packaged it, so when I removed the plastic, I felt even worse," and concluded, "For those who will receive thank-you gifts through the Hometown Love Donation Program, it would be best to receive industrial products rather than perishable items like meat."

A post claiming that the quality of the thank-you gifts received after making hometown love donations in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, has declined.
[Photo by Online Community]

Netizens who saw the post responded with comments such as, "I was thinking of trying the Hometown Love Donation Program, but I won’t," "Pork belly usually has a lot of fat, but this was too much," "The packers know better that this is low-quality meat. They deliberately put the good meat on top and the fat underneath," and "It’s disappointing that low-quality agricultural and livestock products are given as thank-you gifts."

The pork belly and pork neck that Mr. A received were identified as part of the 'Korean Pork Set,' one of the thank-you gifts offered by Michuhol-gu through the Hometown Love Donation Program.

Meanwhile, the Hometown Love Donation Program allows individuals to donate up to 5 million KRW annually to their hometown or other local governments instead of their registered address, receiving tax deductions and thank-you gifts worth up to 30% of the donation amount. The program has been in effect since January 1. Michuhol-gu signed agreements with five companies on February 1 and provides donors with 13 types of thank-you gifts.

Michuhol-gu stated that according to the agreements, if defects caused by the companies are found, exchanges or returns of thank-you gifts are possible, and they will take follow-up actions if contacted by the poster. They are also investigating the circumstances with the company that shipped the items.

A Michuhol-gu official said, "We are waiting for contact because there is no proper way to identify the citizen who received the shipment," adding, "So far, no complaints related to this thank-you gift have been received."

He continued, "If donor Mr. A had shown the photos of the items to the company, they would have definitely exchanged them," and added, "We do not believe it was intentional on the company's part, but if violations are found, the contract with the company can be terminated."

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