Baek Jong-won, the representative of 'The Born Korea,' has been referred to the prosecution on charges of violating origin labeling regulations.
The Special Judicial Police of the National Agriculture Products Quality Management Service transferred one employee and the corporation of The Born Korea to the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office on the 4th.
A spokesperson for The Born Korea stated on the 23rd, "We are faithfully cooperating with the investigation and will do our best to ensure that consumers can feel at ease."
The Born Korea is accused of advertising its products' raw materials as domestically sourced while actually using imported ingredients. For example, 'Baek Jong-won's Baekseok Soybean Paste' contains Chinese fermented soybeans and imported soybeans.
Although 'Hanshin Pocha's Stir-Fried Octopus' advertised the use of domestically sourced garlic, the raw ingredients actually included Chinese garlic. Some ingredients were imported, yet they were labeled as domestic in some promotions.
The advertisement for 'Deopjuk' also claimed the use of domestically sourced shrimp, but it has been reported that Vietnamese shrimp was used instead. Additionally, there are suspicions of using industrial metal cooking utensils.
In March, the Agriculture Management Service reported The Born Korea for violating origin labeling on three products: soy sauce, soybean paste, and agricultural processed goods, and imposed a 'deletion and modification of labels' sanction.
The police announced at a regular press conference on the 12th of last month that "we are investigating a total of 14 cases against CEO Baek and The Born Korea for violations of the food labeling and advertising law and the food sanitation law."
The Gangnam police are looking into allegations of false advertising and the use of industrial metal cooking utensils. The anti-corruption investigation team of the Chungnam Police Agency is investigating the allegation of leaving raw meat at room temperature during regional festivals and transporting it by truck.
Baek Jong-won has apologized three times, stating, "I will suspend all broadcasting activities. I will focus entirely on the growth of The Born Korea as a businessman, not as a broadcaster."
<Photo Source: The Born Korea>
