Daegu's Suseong-gu seeks restaurants for 'safe dining' certification program

Suseong-gu in Daegu announced Monday it will begin accepting applications this month for 10 new restaurants to join its "safe dining" certification program, on a first-come, first-served basis.

General and casual dining establishments within the district that serve regular meals are eligible to apply.

However, cafes, dessert shops, bakeries, fast-food outlets and venues focused primarily on alcohol sales are excluded, as they do not serve standard meals.

To earn certification, restaurants must fulfill three core dining hygiene requirements: providing utensils such as plates and tongs for portioning shared dishes, maintaining hygienic management of chopsticks and spoons, and ensuring kitchen staff wear masks.

Newly certified establishments will receive a designation sign along with support items including a kitchen tool set — scissors and tongs — and paper utensil sleeves to promote improved dining hygiene.

Restaurants interested in participating or seeking further details can contact the food hygiene division at the Suseong-gu Health Center.

"We hope that expanding the safe dining certification program will help spread a safer and more trusted dining-out culture," a Suseong-gu official said. "We encourage local restaurant operators who care about creating a hygienic food environment to take an interest and participate actively."