The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety moved to conduct preemptive hygiene inspections of restaurants near the venue in preparation for BTS's large-scale comeback event.
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety said on the 17th that from the 16th to the 21st, it will carry out hygiene inspections and food poisoning prevention activities, jointly with local governments, targeting about 2,100 restaurants around major event venues such as Gwanghwamun, Namdaemun, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).
The move was prepared to create a safe food environment and prevent consumer inconvenience from price gouging in anticipation of large numbers of domestic and international tourists flocking to the BTS comeback concert to be held at Gwanghwamun on the 21st.
Key inspection items are: ▲ sanitary handling of food and kitchens ▲ whether foods past their use-by date are stored or used ▲ compliance with price display requirements, among others.
Along with on-site inspections, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety will provide management supplies such as sanitary gloves and disinfectants for food-use utensils. It will also promote preventive guidelines to visitors, including handwashing and eating food only after heating.
Following this Seoul event, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety plans to continue ongoing food safety inspections near the sites of upcoming performances in Goyang and Busan.
An official at the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety said, "We will strengthen inspections to prevent food safety incidents at events that draw large crowds and will continue food poisoning prevention education to help create a safe food environment."