Jeong Heeyong Urges Government to Present Food Safety Measures to Reassure the Public

10,232 Cases of Origin Labeling Violations Detected for Agricultural and Livestock Products Over Five Years
Chinese Products Account for the Highest Number with 2,391 Cases

According to data submitted by National Assembly member Jeong Heeyong (People Power Party, Goryeong County, Seongju County, Chilgok County, National Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries), a total of 10,232 violations of origin labeling for agricultural and livestock products were detected at restaurants and group dining facilities over the past five years (from 2021 to July 2025).

As the government has submitted a partial amendment to the Food Industry Promotion Act to abolish the 'origin certification system' for restaurants and group dining facilities, controversy is intensifying. Amid this, frequent violations of origin labeling at restaurants and group dining facilities have raised the need for countermeasures.

Jeong Heeyong, Member of the National Assembly (People Power Party, Goryeong County, Seongju County, Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province, National Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries) / Photo by Kim Ihwan

Violations of origin labeling occurred either by falsely indicating the origin or by failing to indicate it at all.

The number of detected origin labeling violations at restaurants was 1,684 cases in 2021, 2,228 cases in 2022, 2,613 cases in 2023, 2,262 cases in 2024, and 1,274 cases from January to July 2025, totaling 10,061 cases.

At group dining facilities, 21 cases were detected in 2021, 16 cases in 2022, 29 cases in 2023, 90 cases in 2024, and 15 cases from January to July 2025, totaling 171 cases.

When classifying the agricultural and livestock products that were falsely labeled as domestic at restaurants and group dining facilities over the past five years, Chinese products accounted for the highest number with 2,391 cases, followed by American products with 773 cases, Brazilian products with 189 cases, Australian products with 177 cases, and Spanish products with 71 cases.

Jeong Heeyong stated, "With foreign food ingredients disguised as domestic products threatening our dining tables, the government has pushed ahead with abolishing the origin certification system without providing a reasonable explanation, causing public distrust." He emphasized, "The government needs to present alternatives to ensure food safety so that the public can feel assured."

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