Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province will conduct a special crackdown on food safety violations at restaurants near popular summer resorts, taking strict legal and administrative action against offenders to protect the province's reputation as a premier vacation destination.
The enforcement drive runs from Wednesday through Aug. 13, targeting restaurants near major beach and valley resorts across the province during the peak summer season. Inspectors will focus on food hygiene violations and failures to properly label the country of origin of ingredients.
The crackdown will concentrate on eateries near tourist hotspots expected to draw large crowds of vacationers, including beaches and valley retreats.
Provincial authorities said they aim to provide tourists with a safe food environment and prevent food poisoning and other food safety incidents more likely to occur during the summer months.
Inspectors will check for unlicensed operations, the storage or use of products past their expiration dates, compliance with food storage standards and kitchen hygiene requirements, whether employees have undergone required health screenings, and proper labeling of ingredient origins and compliance with labeling procedures.
Minor violations found during inspections will be ordered corrected on the spot. Serious offenses will be met with administrative penalties and referral to prosecutors under relevant laws.
Yun Seung-gi, director of the province's disaster and safety division, urged restaurant operators to "actively participate in voluntary hygiene management in accordance with the law."
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