On the 23rd of April, Asia Today reported that the police investigation into The Born Korea, led by CEO Baek Jong Won, has been transferred to the Chungnam Police Agency due to additional complaints and case consolidation. The company is under investigation for violating the Agricultural Land Act.
The investigation began after a petition was filed with the Yesan Police Station on March 13, 2025. However, due to the receipt of further complaints and the need to merge these cases, the investigation was transferred to the Chungnam Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division on April 21.
The Yesan Police Station explained that additional complaints against Baek Jong Won and The Born Korea were submitted on March 25, which led to an overload of investigation personnel. They stated that the case was trnsferred to the higher authority in Chungnam to ensure a more efficient handling of the matter.
The current investigation involves violations of Articles 32 and 34 of the Agricultural Land Act, as well as violations of the Fair Labeling and Advertising Act. These charges are part of a broader set of allegations against The Bon Korea, which has recently faced several controversies.
One of the major issues is the use of a greenhouse at Baekseok Factory, which was used for purposes other than those initially reported, resulting in its demolition. Furthermore, The Born Korea faced criticism for using imported raw materials at a facility designated as an agricultural promotion zone, which led to an apology for violating agricultural land laws.
In addition to these violations, The Born Korea has been under scrutiny for issues related to its product quality, including discrepancies between advertising claims and the actual content, leading to complaints about the company’s products being overpriced and of low quality.
A petition titled "The Born Korea, which repeatedly engages in illegal activities while above the law, and the Food and Drug Administration and local governments turning a blind eye! We demand the creation of the 'Baek Jong Won Prevention Law'" was posted on the National Assembly’s electronic petition platform on April 21, 2025.
The petition, submitted by an individual identified as A, criticized The Born Korea for repeatedly engaging in illegal activities that threaten public health during local government festivals without facing any punishment.
The petition called for urgent legal reform to prevent the privatization of public events. It suggested the following measures:
Legislation to restrict illegal companies from participating in festivals.
Penalties for individuals involved with such companies.
Strengthening penalties for violations of the Food Sanitation Act.
Banning sole-source contracts for festivals and introducing public management systems.
Implementing audits and institutional improvements by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local governments.
The petitioner further argued that unsanitary cooking practices and the use of industrial materials are clear violations of the Food Sanitation Act and require strong penalties, including business suspensions and criminal charges.
"Why is The Born Korea above the law? Why must festivals turn into exclusive deals for certain companies?" the petitioner asked. "At public events funded by taxpayer money, citizens are forced to eat food prepared with industrial tools and pesticides. This must not continue."
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