[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] BKR, the operator of Burger King in South Korea, has been fined by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) for applying certain operational standards deemed to violate the country’s franchise business law. BKR maintains, however, that its practices strictly follow the brand’s global guidelines.



In a statement released on August 13, BKR said, “As a global brand, Burger King adheres to headquarters’ standards to maintain consistent quality and food safety worldwide. The procedures in question were intended to deliver better service to customers.”



Regarding store inspections, BKR emphasized that these were part of Burger King’s global operational procedures to ensure consistent service and quality across all locations. “Inspections are conducted to safeguard customer hygiene and safety and to guarantee a uniform brand experience,” the company said.



On the KFTC’s concerns about the use of certain cleaning agents, BKR explained that it merely “recommended products in line with Burger King’s global food safety policies” and “never imposed penalties on franchisees for not using them.” The company stressed that there was “no profit motive” behind the guidance, adding that in some cases the headquarters accepted losses to maintain quality—for example, absorbing reverse margins to ensure fresh tomato supply.



Addressing the “closure” term found in its global operations manual, BKR said the phrase was “overstated in translation,” and actually referred to “a temporary suspension of up to two hours to improve hygiene.” The company added that such measures had never been enforced and were meant solely to convey the seriousness of meeting hygiene standards.

 

 

 

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