Paik Jong-won was spotted in public about eight months after he suspended broadcasting activities amid multiple allegations.
Recently, a video of Paik Jong-won attending the 2026 Sangju dried persimmon festival was released on online communities. In the video, Paik Jong-won visited the festival site with the Sangju mayor and met merchants.
Paik Jong-won greeted citizens who came to the festival with a bright smile, took commemorative photos and showed encouragement to merchants. In particular, Paik Jong-won attracted attention by appearing with the owner of Yeondon.
Last year, The Born Korea, which he operates, was booked and investigated on charges including violation of the origin labeling law, violation of livestock product sanitation management, violation of the Food Sanitation Act, and violation of the Food Labeling and Advertising Act.
Paik Jong-won released an apology saying, "All the problems are my responsibility. I will reform the organization with a resolve to cut to the bone and change the corporate culture through communication with employees." He also suspended broadcasting activities except for programs that were being filmed at the time and focused on managing The Born Korea's operations and its franchisees.
All the allegations were later dismissed. All four Food Sanitation Act violation charges raised last year over claims such as the use of industrial metal cooking utensils at a local festival and spraying juice from a pesticide sprayer were closed without indictment. Also, allegations of violating the origin labeling law by labeling some products as domestic despite using foreign ingredients resulted in the practitioners and the corporation being referred to the prosecution, but a decision of non-prosecution was made due to lack of intent.
Allegations of violating the origin labeling law related to an agricultural corporation established together by BTS's Jin and Paik Jong-won were also previously dismissed.
On the 20th, the special investigation division of the Seoul Customs under the Korea Customs Service recently closed an investigation without filing charges over allegations that Paik Jong-won and The Born Korea violated the Customs Act by partitioning imports of cooking equipment.
[Photo] video capture
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