Incheon’s special judicial police reported the detection of illegal activities in seven companies related to the sale of agricultural and livestock products during the Lunar New Year. The special investigation spanned two weeks and uncovered serious violations, including the storage of expired frozen beef without proper waste disposal labels and the production and sale of meat products by companies whose safety certifications had been revoked, particularly under the HACCP guidelines. These practices raise significant health and safety concerns for consumers, especially during a holiday period when food sales are expected to increase.

One of the identified companies was found to have kept frozen beef that had surpassed its consumption deadline (set for December 2025) in their cold storage without any appropriate waste markings. While no sales of this expired meat to consumers were confirmed, the mere presence of such products raises questions about food safety practices. Another firm, whose HACCP certification status was revoked last October for failing to meet hygiene standards, continued processing and selling meat products. Additionally, other companies were found neglecting crucial labeling requirements and misrepresenting the origin of their products, including instances of falsely labeling non-beef products as Hanwoo, a prestigious Korean beef variety.

In response to these violations, the Incheon government plans to complete their investigations and forward the findings to prosecutors for further legal action. The penalties for breaching the Food Sanitation Act can include imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to 30 million KRW, while falsely marking product origins can carry penalties of up to seven years imprisonment and fines up to 100 million KRW. The head of the Incheon special police underscored the critical importance of proper labeling and hygiene in agricultural and livestock products, announcing plans for ongoing inspections, particularly during peak sale periods such as holidays to ensure consumer safety and compliance with regulations.