City offers free pre-certification consulting to boost hygiene standards at dining establishments
Designated businesses to receive hygiene supplies, preferential loans and other benefits as city encourages wider participation
Naju is moving to build a safer dining environment and strengthen tourism infrastructure for residents and visitors as it marks 2026 as the "Visit Naju Year."
The city plans to raise hygiene standards at local restaurants and reinforce its identity as a food-safe city through an expansion of its certified food-safety restaurant program and tailored consulting support.
According to the city on Sunday, Naju is actively pursuing the expansion of its "Food Safety Certified Restaurant" designation to identify and develop dining establishments with strong food safety management.
The program evaluates restaurants on their hygiene standards and designates top performers as certified establishments, with the aim of providing residents and tourists with a safer and more sanitary dining experience.
Starting this year, the existing three-tier hygiene rating system has been consolidated into a unified "Food Safety Certified Restaurant (five stars)" framework, making it easier for consumers to assess hygiene levels at a glance.
Recognizing that some business owners have been reluctant to apply due to concerns about the application process and evaluation criteria, Naju is offering a tailored pre-certification consulting program for establishments seeking the designation.
Under the program, specialists visit each establishment directly to assess its hygiene management practices and advise owners on areas requiring improvement and the steps needed to meet certification standards.
The consulting service is provided entirely free of charge, with the focus on reducing the burden on business owners and broadening participation in the program.
Establishments wishing to apply can find details on the application process through official notices posted on the Naju city website.
Certified restaurants are eligible for a range of benefits, including hygiene supply support, priority access to Food Promotion Fund loans and a three-year exemption from routine inspections.
The city plans to use the program's expansion to sharpen the competitiveness of local restaurants and improve tourist satisfaction, accelerating its drive to attract 5 million visitors during the 2026 Visit Naju Year.
"We expect the number of tourists visiting Naju to grow significantly with the 2026 Visit Naju Year," a city official said. "We will do our utmost to expand the food-safety certification program and support hygiene management so that both residents and tourists can dine with confidence."
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
