At about 4 p.m. on the 23rd in Dongjak District, Seoul, at a supermarket. Under a price tag reading "1,000 won," roll cake, castella, and cream bread were stacked tightly. The display read "bread baked in the morning," but flipping the wrapper revealed the label "country of origin: China." Inside the bag was a dehumidifying preservative packet, and the expiration date was marked for six months later.
A job seeker, a person surnamed Kim, 25, who was choosing bread, looked for a long time and then put the product down. Kim said, "It said bread baked in the morning, but I wondered how the shelf life could be this long," and added, "Domestic bread goes bad in a few days at most, but they say Chinese bread lasts for months, so I'm not sure if it's okay to eat."
◇Chinese bread, 6-month shelf life… "Hard to distinguish from domestic products"
Recently, Chinese bread has been spreading quickly, centered on low-priced bakeries known as 1,000-won bread shops. The price is the same at 1,000 won, but the shelf life shows a big difference. While domestic bread is usually around a week, Chinese products range from as short as two to three months to as long as six months.
According to the industry on the 24th, 1,000-won bread shops have grown by promoting a "same-day production and same-day sales" model and low prices. The factory shipping price of domestic bread is around 600–700 won, and the store purchase price, including logistics, is about 700–800 won. Owners have maintained a "small margins, high volume" strategy, earning revenue from sales volume while leaving only about 200–300 won in profit per piece of bread.
A business owner, identified as A, who runs a 1,000-won bread shop in Jung District, Seoul, said, "With domestic bread, unsold quantities are returned to the manufacturer the same day, so the burden of freshness and inventory isn't heavy."
As long-shelf-life Chinese bread has recently flowed into this market in large quantities, consumer reactions are split. Some consumers suspect excessive use of preservatives, saying the shelf life is excessively long. Store owners, however, say there is no quality issue. Since the products have gone through formal import procedures, their safety has been verified, they said.
It is also controversial that Chinese bread is not easy to distinguish from domestic products by appearance. Checking five low-priced bakeries and unmanned stores across Seoul over two days from the 22nd found that four were selling Chinese bread. All were priced the same at 1,000 won.
Large Korean-language wording on the front of the packaging made it easy for consumers to mistake the products for domestically made. In contrast, information on the country of origin and manufacturer was displayed relatively small on the back.
◇Seoul City to conduct intensive checks on "preservative standards"
Consumers are expressing anxiety about both the long shelf life and the country of origin. A college student, a person surnamed Kim, 20, said, "Chinese food products tend to be less trusted, so I worry from the start about whether they're made properly," adding, "I buy only after checking the country of origin on the back of the product one by one."
Store owners said Chinese bread poses no safety issue because it is supplied through official importers. Some products even had a mark indicating enrollment in a 1 billion won product liability insurance policy from a domestic insurer. That means they can be guaranteed legal liability for damages if an accident occurs due to a product defect.
B, who runs a 1,000-won bread shop in Dongjak District, said, "If safety had been verified, wouldn't it have been possible to take out insurance," adding, "The view that only Chinese products are unusually unsafe is excessive."
There was also bread imported from Japan at the 1,000-won bakery. Like the Chinese products, a preservative packet was included inside the packaging.
The industry cites a "multi-item strategy" as the background for the introduction of Chinese bread. The idea is to expand the range of consumer choices by increasing product types and boost sales. Store owners explain that the purchase prices of domestic and imported products are similar, so the profit difference is not large.
Store owner B said, "The purchase prices of Chinese bread and domestic bread are almost the same, so it doesn't leave more profit," adding, "We display items considering taste and consumer preference."
Authorities have launched inspections. Seoul City plans to collect about 700 low-priced imported breads through the 27th and test whether preservative standards are being met. It will focus on whether major preservatives, such as propionic acid and sodium propionate, exceed allowable limits and whether banned tar dyes are being used. Products that violate the standards will be pulled from shelves and recalled immediately.