▲ Paik Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea
Prosecutors have decided not to indict Paik Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, who had been reported over allegations of falsely labeling the origins of ingredients in the company's products.
The Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Joo-hee) announced on September 16 that it decided not to indict CEO Paik, concluding that it was difficult to establish charges of violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act.
However, the corporation The Born Korea and an employee, identified as A, who was in charge of home shopping for the distribution business team handling the "Deopjuk" product, were indicted on charges of intentional false advertising.
Previously, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station launched an investigation in March of last year after receiving a complaint and petition alleging that The Born Korea used farmed shrimp from Vietnam in Deopjuk while using the expression "natural" in its advertisements.
After summoning CEO Paik as a suspect for about five hours of questioning, police decided in October of the same year not to transfer him, citing a lack of charges, while forwarding The Born Korea corporation and employee A to prosecutors.
Following an objection from the complainant, the police received a request for reinvestigation, secured business records from The Born Korea, and reportedly concluded that the Deopjuk advertisement was processed through final approval by lower-level staff.
After supplementary investigations, prosecutors similarly concluded that there were no circumstances indicating CEO Paik was directly involved in the Deopjuk advertisement.
Prosecutors also received a case forwarded by police regarding The Born Korea corporation and a marketing team social media (SNS) employee on charges of misleading consumers into thinking the origin of ingredients was domestic while promoting the "Chewy Sweet Potato Bread" product, but decided not to indict them, stating there was no intention to falsify the origin of ingredients.
(Photo provided by The Born Korea, Yonhap News)
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