The restaurant franchise corporation Theborn Korea was referred to prosecutors for falsely indicating its origin. The company's representative, broadcaster Paik Jong-won, is currently facing several investigations, including this incident.
According to the legal community on the 23rd, the National Institute of Agricultural Products Quality Control special judicial police (special investigation unit) referred Theborn Korea to the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office on the 4th of this month on charges of violating the Origin Marking Act. The Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office is a prosecution office that mainly investigates food and pharmaceutical safety-related cases.
Theborn Korea is accused of advertising its main materials and supplies as domestic while actually using imported products from China. Its flagship product, "Paik Jong-won's Baeksuk Doenjang," emphasized traditional Korean production methods and was sold as domestic, but it was revealed that it actually contained improved soybean paste from China and imported soybeans and flour.
Additionally, while it promoted the "Hanshin Pocha Nokji Bokkeum" as using domestically produced garlic, it actually contained garlic from China. The "Deopjuk" product was also confirmed to contain shrimp from Vietnam, contrary to its description stating it used "domestically produced kelp, shrimp, and anchovies."
Earlier, the special investigation unit issued a corrective order for "label removal and modification" regarding three items, including soy sauce, doenjang, and agricultural processed products from Theborn Korea in March.
In response, representative Paik noted at the regular shareholders' meeting in March this year, "Despite the best performance since its founding, I deeply apologize to our shareholders for the recent origin issues that have arisen and the worry and disappointment they have caused. I will strengthen the origin management system and collaborate with external experts to enhance transparency and establish an effective internal monitoring system."
Meanwhile, Theborn Korea is under investigation for more than 14 charges in addition to violating the Origin Marking Act. Police are investigating allegations of false advertising for some products, such as "Jjondeok Sweet Potato Bread" (violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act) and unauthorized production and supply of cooking utensils (violating the Food Sanitation Act).