Baek Jong-won's 'The Born Korea'… This Time it's the 'Drinking Session Interview' Controversy

The Born Korea, led by Baek Jong-won, has recently come under controversy as allegations arose that an executive from the company conducted interviews during a 'drinking session.'

On the 5th, a video titled "Baek Jong-won's The Born Korea Female Drinking Session Interview Recording" was released on the YouTube channel 'Park Soo-ik.'

According to the released video, a female applicant, A, who applied for the second-round tenant recruitment at the 'Yesan Traditional Market' managed by The Born Korea, explained that she was asked for a personal drinking meeting under the pretext of a 'second interview' by an executive from the company.

A stated that the implicated executive visited the area where she lives and had a drinking session at a bar.

In the released recording of the 'drinking session interview,' the implicated executive said to A, "Do you drink? You look like you can hold your liquor well," boasting about appearing on Baek Jong-won’s YouTube channel.

He continued, "(The merchants featured here) begged me to let them in. I have full authority here," adding, "I'm currently conducting personality assessments. Our employees were very vocal about it. Why are we giving special treatment?"

Furthermore, the implicated executive remarked to A, "You might think it's strange that I suddenly asked for a drink, but the CEO believes there’s nothing better than a drink. The CEO really enjoys drinking," and also said, "You don’t have a boyfriend right now, do you? It shouldn’t be a problem if you do."

As the controversy escalated following the recording's release, The Born Korea announced that "it has decided to immediately suspend the executive involved and recognizes this matter as very serious."

They also stated, "We will thoroughly investigate the legality of the actions through an external professional organization, and we plan to take strict measures based on the findings."

Meanwhile, The Born Korea has recently faced various controversies, including criticism regarding the low citrus content in its 'Baekham' pork and citrus beer, and a YouTube video by the The Born Food Industry Development Institute, which showed a product made from Brazilian chicken while promoting the idea of helping local farmers by using LP gas cylinders for cooking indoors.

Image source: Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea / News1, YouTube 'Park Soo-ik'