Yeosu City Launches Special Crackdown on Seafood Origin Ahead of Seollal Holiday

Joint Inspection by Honorary Inspectors and National Fishery Products Quality Management Service

Focused Check on Seafood for Ancestral Rites, Gifts, and Japanese Imports

Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong) announced that it will conduct a special inspection on seafood origin labeling for two weeks from January 24 to February 7 in preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday.

This inspection is being carried out to protect consumers' right to know and to establish transparent distribution order, as a surge in demand for seafood for ancestral rites and gifts is expected during the Lunar New Year holiday.

[Photo by Yeosu City]

The city has organized a joint inspection team consisting of 10 honorary seafood origin labeling monitors and the Yeosu branch of the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, planning to guide and crack down on major traditional markets and large supermarkets frequently used by consumers within the city.

In particular, the inspection will focus on ▲ seafood for ancestral rites such as yellow croaker, octopus, sea bream species, and cockles ▲ seafood commonly sold as gifts such as croaker, abalone, and anchovies ▲ and imported Japanese products with high import volumes such as scallops, red sea bream, and sea snails.

If the origin is not labeled or is falsely labeled as a result of the special inspection, a fine of up to 10 million KRW, imprisonment of up to 7 years, or a fine of up to 100 million KRW will be imposed to establish a proper seafood origin labeling system.

Meanwhile, to alleviate citizens' concerns over the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Yeosu City has increased the number of its honorary origin labeling monitors by two starting this year, and from April, will hire five fixed-term workers to be stationed at traditional markets and fish markets within the city, focusing on securing seafood safety through origin labeling inspections.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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