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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea and one of South Korea’s most prominent celebrity chefs, is facing yet another controversy—this time over alleged violations of food safety regulations involving raw meat.
On Thursday, an online community post resurfaced photos from the 2023 Hongseong Barbecue Festival in South Chungcheong Province, where large quantities of raw meat appeared to be transported and stored improperly.
The photos, reportedly taken in November, show raw meat left exposed on the back of a truck under direct sunlight, with no protective covering or refrigeration. Several men, presumed to be event staff, are seen handling the meat without proper sanitary uniforms, although they were wearing gloves.
According to the post’s author, the daytime high in Hongseong on the day of the event reached 25°C (77°F).
Under South Korea’s Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act, packaged meat must be transported using refrigerated or frozen vehicles. Chilled meat must be stored between -2°C and 10°C, while frozen meat must be kept at or below -18°C. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in legal penalties.
While Baek Jong-won has not yet responded publicly to the allegations, the controversy is adding to a string of challenges facing the food entrepreneur in recent months.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
