Hyundai Department Store announced on the 9th that it has been designated as a 'food safety zone' by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, becoming the first department store in the country to receive this designation.

The food safety zone is a project promoted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to enhance the restaurant hygiene rating system, operating in areas where over 60% of restaurants have received hygiene ratings.

On the morning of Nov. 9, Vice President Chang-seob Kim (left) of Hyundai Department Store and Director Yu-kyung Oh of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety are holding a designation ceremony for the food safety zone and posing for a commemorative photo at Sounds Forest on the 5th floor of The Hyundai Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. /Courtesy of Hyundai Department Store

Hyundai Department Store has designated seven stores, including The Hyundai Seoul, as food safety zones. In the case of The Hyundai Seoul, 92% of the 50 restaurants within the department store, or 46 establishments, have obtained hygiene ratings, with 44 of them receiving the very good rating and the remaining two receiving the good rating.

Hyundai Department Store plans to ensure that all food and beverage establishments within the department store receive hygiene ratings to create a safe and reliable dining environment and will strive to lead in food safety.

Kim Chang-seob, vice president of Hyundai Department Store, noted, "Hyundai Department Store is always striving to provide a high level of food hygiene and service quality," adding, "We will do our best in food hygiene management so that customers visiting the department store can enjoy food and beverage services in a safer and more pleasant environment."