Comedian Lee Kyung-sil faced backlash for selling expensive eggs, and the official sales site run by her son Son Bo-seung was temporarily closed.
On the 19th, the official sales site "Prestige" for the egg brand "Uaran," which Lee Kyung-sil actively promoted and led sales for, displayed messages such as "site under preparation" and "the site is currently under preparation," making it inaccessible.
Recently, Lee Kyung-sil was criticized for selling eggs with shell code "No. 4" at a price similar to "No. 1." Generally, as the shell code number increases (1→4), the price tends to be cheaper. Shell code No. 4 eggs are laid by hens raised in cages smaller than an A4 sheet of paper, and because they are produced in high-stress environments, they have been a continuous point of controversy in terms of animal welfare.
The "Uaran" eggs that Lee Kyung-sil actively promoted and encouraged purchases for are shell code No. 4. These eggs are being sold for 15,000 won per 30 eggs, which is even more expensive than animal welfare certified fertile eggs that use shell codes No. 1 and No. 2.
Netizens reacted critically, saying things like "Do you think consumers are fools," "Even if it's shell code No. 4, it would be fine if it were cheap, but it's too expensive," "Is shell code No. 4 premium?" and "Is the celebrity's name included in the price?"
In response, the company said, "The rearing environment is extremely important and we think more No. 1 farms should be created, but not all layer farms can have No. 1," and added, "We also believe that feeding better ingredients to No. 4 hens that need immediate improvement and rewarding them with high-quality eggs is one way to run the business."
When the controversy arose, Lee Kyung-sil deleted promotional posts encouraging purchases from her social media account. However, because the representative of the official sales site for the eggs was registered as her son Son Bo-seung, opinions arose that it would be difficult to avoid responsibility, further fueling the controversy. As the official sales site was temporarily closed amid the growing controversy, the fallout is expected to continue.
Meanwhile, Lee Kyung-sil is currently appearing in the play "Special Boeing Boeing."
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