The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on the 21st that it will carry out a special crackdown on seafood country-of-origin labeling through the 2nd of next month for Chuseok.
In this crackdown, the ministry will focus on major holiday-demand items such as pollock, yellow croaker, mackerel, squid, hairtail, and anchovies, as well as red seabream, octopus, scallops, and eel, which have frequent or concerning violations of country-of-origin labeling.
The inspections will target seafood manufacturing, distribution, and retail businesses; restaurants; and sellers on delivery apps, and will be conducted separately by the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, local governments, and the Korea Coast Guard under their respective inspection plans. If necessary, joint inspections will also be carried out through interagency cooperation.
Those who falsely label the country of origin face up to seven years in prison or fines of up to 100 million won. Failure to label the country of origin is also subject to an administrative fine of up to 10 million won.
Park Seung-jun, director of fishing village and aquaculture policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "We will rigorously manage country-of-origin labeling so that people can trust and purchase seafood during the Chuseok holiday."