170 Show Symptoms of Food Poisoning After Eating Korean Buffet at Saenggeo Jincheon Festival

170 Show Symptoms of Food Poisoning After Eating at Festival Korean Buffet
County Health Center: "No Severe Cases... Full Compensation for Medical Expenses"

Photo of an ambulance unrelated to the article content

During the Saenggeo Jincheon Cultural Festival (September 25-28) in Jincheon County, North Chungcheong Province, local residents who dined at restaurants operated by each township exhibited symptoms of mass food poisoning, prompting authorities to launch an epidemiological investigation.

According to Jincheon County on September 29, a county resident who ate at a Korean buffet at one of the festival’s restaurants on September 27 showed symptoms of food poisoning. As of 6 p.m. the previous day, 161 people had reported symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Since then, the number of affected individuals has increased, and as of today, the total has reached 170 (24 hospitalized, 146 receiving outpatient treatment).

The county has collected specimens from the patients and requested a detailed analysis from the Chungbuk Institute of Health and Environment.

A county official stated, "People who ate food at the festival’s restaurants are showing symptoms of food poisoning," adding, "We have organized and are operating a task force for waterborne infectious disease countermeasures." The official also noted, "So far, there have been no reports of patients in serious condition."

Meanwhile, the Jincheon County Public Health Center has decided, in cooperation with the Jincheon County branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, to fully compensate the victims for their medical expenses.

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