Theborn Korea Caught Violating Building and Farmland Laws... Voluntarily Dismantles Vinyl Greenhouse

"Used Differently from Reported Purpose," Complaint Filed
Yesan County Issued Prior Notice Before Administrative Restoration Order
Voluntary Dismantling Completed in December Last Year

The Baekseok factory of the dining franchise company The Born Korea was found to have used a nearby vinyl greenhouse for purposes other than those declared in its permit, and it was later revealed that the factory received prior administrative notification and dismantled the structure.

According to a Yonhap News report on the 25th, in October of last year, a complaint was filed through the National Petition System stating that two vinyl greenhouses (totaling 440㎡) near the Baekseok factory were being used as warehouses, contrary to the construction permit for temporary buildings. The Baekseok factory is a self-production facility used by The Born Korea to manufacture sauces and condiments, located in Oga-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungnam Province.

CEO Baek Jong-won of Theborn Korea. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Upon on-site inspection by Yesan-gun authorities, it was confirmed that the vinyl greenhouses were reported in 2012 as fixed agricultural greenhouses, but in reality, they were being used as warehouses to store equipment and materials. Accordingly, in November of last year, before issuing an administrative order for restoration of the violation (correction order), Yesan-gun sent a prior notification to The Born Korea. A prior administrative notification refers to the administrative agency informing the party of the intended disposition and receiving their opinion, as stipulated by the Administrative Procedures Act. After receiving the notification, the Baekseok factory responded that they would voluntarily dismantle the problematic vinyl greenhouses, and it was confirmed that the dismantling was completed in December of last year.

An official from the county explained, "We judged that the use was different from the declared purpose in the building construction permit, and considered it a violation of both the Farmland Act and the Building Act, so we sent a prior notification regarding the relevant matters." According to Article 34 of the Farmland Act, unauthorized conversion or obtaining permission through false means can result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine amounting to 50% of the land value.

Earlier, on the 24th, Chungcheong Today reported that The Born Korea’s Baekseok factory recently received a prior correction order notification from the competent authority for violations of the Farmland Act and the Building Act. A representative from The Born Korea’s Baekseok factory stated, "The greenhouse has been used continuously with extensions of the temporary building permit since the past. It is true that it was used as a warehouse for boxes and materials, and after receiving the prior notification, it was dismantled following proper procedures," according to reports.

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