Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect 11 Illegal Activities in Winter Jjimjilbangs and Bathhouses

Gyeonggi Province investigated illegal activities in bathhouses within the province and uncovered 11 cases.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police announced on the 9th that from December 9 to 20 last year, they conducted an investigation targeting 91 bathhouse businesses operating jjimjilbangs and saunas, as well as their auxiliary facilities, within the province. They uncovered a total of 11 illegal activities, including selling food at convenience stores without reporting and storing products past their expiration dates.

Among the major violations, Business A was caught selling coffee, sikhye, and other items at a convenience store without notifying the competent authorities. Business B was found to have stored 10 types of products, including expired mustard sauce, starch syrup, and oyster sauce, within the establishment without labeling them for educational or disposal purposes.

Business C operated a sauna facility with a volume of 30㎥ or more using wood as fuel but failed to report the air pollutant emission facility to the competent authorities, resulting in a crackdown. Business D was confirmed to have falsely labeled Chinese-made kimchi as domestically produced on the origin labeling board in the restaurant inside the jjimjilbang.

The Special Judicial Police Unit of Gyeonggi Province investigated illegal activities within livestock farms in the province at the end of last year and uncovered a total of 11 cases. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Under the current Food Sanitation Act, operating a food service business without notifying the competent authorities or storing or selling products or food past their expiration dates is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won. Additionally, the Air Quality Preservation Act stipulates that operating an air pollutant emission facility without notifying the competent authorities is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won, and false labeling of origin is punishable under the Origin Labeling Act by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won.

Ki Do, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police, stated, "We will continue to do our best so that individuals and family groups can safely and healthily enjoy indoor activities during the cold winter season."

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