Baek Jong-won Issues Apology Over Product Controversy
Baek Jong-won, the CEO of The Born Korea, has publicly apologized regarding the controversy surrounding the company's products. On March 13, he released a statement on The Born Korea's website, expressing his deep sense of responsibility and sincere regret for causing concern among the public. He acknowledged that the company had fallen short of expectations, particularly in terms of unacceptable mistakes made during the production and distribution processes.
Baek stated, "I humbly accept the criticisms directed at me and promise to swiftly improve all matters, including legal issues. Furthermore, as a publicly listed company, I will lead a company-wide innovation and growth to meet the expectations of our shareholders. I sincerely apologize once again to everyone who has shown continued interest and expectations for me and the company."
The Born Korea faced criticism for allegedly violating agricultural land laws by using foreign ingredients in products manufactured at its Baekseok factory in Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do, which is located in an agricultural promotion zone that requires the use of domestic agricultural products. Additionally, the company has been scrutinized for misrepresenting the pork content in its product, Baekham, and the citrus content in its citrus beer, as well as for using Chinese ingredients labeled as domestic in its Han Shin Pocha octopus stir-fry sold on its online store.
Baek Jong-won has also been criminally charged for violating origin labeling laws. If proven guilty, he could face up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million KRW under the law regarding the labeling of agricultural and fishery products.
Baek, who has been a popular figure in the food industry, is now facing backlash due to these controversies. As public scrutiny increases, many are reflecting on his past actions, which could further impact his image. This year, he is set to appear in MBC's 'Chef in Antarctica' and tvN's 'Business Genius Baek Sa-jang 3', while also preparing for the second season of the hit Netflix show 'Black and White Chef'. The question remains whether he can recover his image following these events.
