Gwangju City to Conduct Intensive Hygiene Inspections of Food and Accommodation Businesses Ahead of "Korea Forest Expo"

Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on September 30 that it has established an intensive hygiene management plan for food service and accommodation businesses, and will begin full-scale inspections to provide clean and safe food as well as a pleasant lodging environment for domestic and international visitors during the upcoming "2025 Korea Forest Expo" (October 18-21).

Gwangju City Hall exterior. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

The city will conduct on-site inspections of 208 food service businesses, including lunch box delivery companies near the event venue, Gonjian Ceramic Park, for three weeks from September 29 to October 17, excluding the Chuseok holiday, prior to the opening of the expo.

The main items to be checked include: ▲whether expired or past-shelf-life food is being sold or used, ▲hygiene management of cooking areas and installation of insect screens, ▲compliance with storage temperatures for refrigerated and frozen foods, and ▲prohibition of food reuse, among other general food hygiene matters.

In addition, to ensure a safe and pleasant lodging environment for visitors, the city will conduct focused inspections of 13 accommodation businesses near the venue for two days, from October 1 to 2. The inspections will mainly check ▲posting of business registration certificates and accommodation price lists, ▲cleanliness and disinfection of rooms and bedding, and ▲compliance with public hygiene management standards. The city will also provide guidance to prevent price gouging and to enhance friendly service for tourists.

During the expo, a field response team will be organized and operated to promptly respond to complaints such as unsanitary management at restaurants or accommodation businesses and suspected food poisoning reports. In addition to these inspections, the city plans to continue preemptive management in preparation for the 2026 Gyeonggi-do Comprehensive Sports Games.

A city official stated, "We will create a safe and clean food and lodging environment through thorough pre-event inspections and swift on-site responses, so that visitors can enjoy the Korea Forest Expo with peace of mind."

Meanwhile, the city is supporting restaurant operators by producing a hygiene management guidebook titled "Smart Food Hygiene Guide," which is provided through the public health center website (Health & Hygiene News) and via QR code, allowing business owners to easily access and utilize the information.

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