Culinary researcher and broadcaster Paik Jong-won, CEO of Theborn Korea, has found himself at the center of controversy once again. He is accused of using an illegal cooking pot.
According to an online community on the 13th, an internet user known as A recently filed a complaint with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regarding an investigation and action request concerning the airing of a scene involving the use of cooking equipment violating food safety laws in the ENA entertainment program 'Paik Jong-won's Les Misérables.'
The scene that A pointed out as problematic was when Paik was using a large pot to make boiled pork in Les Misérables. At the time, Paik told the cast, 'What would you think if you saw a giant cauldron in a restaurant as a customer? This is also part of marketing.'
A criticized the broadcast, stating, 'The equipment and containers used in food preparation must be manufactured for food use. In the case of metal, they must undergo inspection procedures in accordance with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regulations,' adding, 'This device (the large pot) cannot be used for food preparation and sale. It violates the standards for food equipment according to the enforcement rules of the Food Sanitation Act.'
Additionally, A mentioned, 'The use of unreported and unhygienic equipment is a violation of the law,' saying, 'The act of exposing this on a broadcast could undermine public health order. Although this broadcast is a program that the public is likely to perceive and follow as food culture content related to self-employed businesses, using and exposing illegal equipment whose safety has not been verified leads to a misunderstanding of public health.'
A also pointed out, 'As the director and a cast member, Paik Jong-won is a representative figure in the food service industry, and despite the responsibility for food safety and hygiene being required, it is a serious oversight that he used equipment without confirming its safety for filming and cooking.'
Furthermore, A criticized the production company Studio A to say, 'They bear significant responsibility for allowing the broadcast without inspecting the filming equipment and cooking instruments.'
Starting with the controversy over the price of a gift set of Pak Ham, Paik has become embroiled in various controversies, including violations of the Agricultural Land Act regarding fermented soybean paste, false labeling of origin, the use of pesticide-tainted apple juice, and allegations of a blacklist against employees. Following this, there have been revelations about the alcohol interview claims at Theborn Korea, allegations of Paik's involvement in cast member exits, and issues of abuse of power against the production team.
In relation to the controversy, Paik announced a complete suspension of the broadcast through his YouTube channel on the 6th and expressed his intention to focus on management.