Theborn Korea CEO and celebrity chef Baek Jong-won is under investigation for violating the Country of Origin Labeling Act.
The National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) Special Judicial Police conducted an inspection on March 12 to determine whether Theborn Korea engaged in fraudulent distribution practices. The company allegedly violated regulations regarding misleading labeling in online sales.
Some products, including "Baek Jong-won's Baekseok Doenjang" and "Hanshin Pocha Nakji Bokkeum", reportedly contained misleading country-of-origin markings, potentially causing consumer confusion.
Legal Implications
According to NAQS, the details of the ongoing investigation remain confidential. However, the agency has already published the violation on its official website.
- Violating the Country of Origin Labeling Act can result in criminal penalties, including:
- Up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million KRW (~$75,000 USD)
- For habitual violators, the penalty increases to up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 150 million KRW (~$113,000 USD)
Additionally, Theborn Korea faces allegations of violating the Farmland Act. The company's Baekseok Factory in Yesan County, Chungcheongnam-do, is located within an Agricultural Promotion Zone but reportedly produced food products using imported ingredients, which may violate land-use regulations.
Theborn Korea's Response
Amid the controversy, Theborn Korea issued an official statement, saying:
"We are fully cooperating with the NAQS investigation regarding country-of-origin labeling."
Baek Jong-won also recently faced another legal issue. In February, he was administratively penalized for violating the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act. A safety violation was reported after he was seen deep-frying chicken bones next to an LPG gas cylinder.
At the time, Baek defended himself, stating:
"We ensured safety by equipping the site with a Class K fire extinguisher and conducting inspections with two gas safety managers. All equipment was removed after filming."
What's Next?
The case remains under investigation, and potential penalties will be determined based on the findings.
