Baek Jong-won’s company, The Born Korea, has recently been involved in allegations of violating the Farmland Act. The issue arose from the use of Chinese ingredients in the production of soybean paste within an Agricultural Promotion Zone. In response, The Born Korea has apologized and promised to change its production practices.
According to industry sources on the 11th, “Baek Jong-won’s Baekseok Soybean Paste” includes Chinese-modified soybean paste, soybeans from the U.S., Canada, and Australia, as well as flour from the U.S. and Australia. The company marketed the product on its website as having the “deep flavor of homemade soybean paste” and emphasized the use of traditional Korean manufacturing techniques.
The problem arose because this product is produced at The Born Korea’s Baekseok factory, located within an Agricultural Promotion Zone where domestic agricultural products must be primarily used as raw materials.
Under Article 29 of the Enforcement Decree of the Farmland Act, facilities for processing or handling are not allowed in the Agricultural Promotion Zone. However, exceptions are made for food processing plants that use “domestic agricultural products” for production. Violating this can result in up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 million won as per Article 59 of the Farmland Act.
In an official statement, The Born Korea acknowledged their lack of awareness regarding the legislation and apologized for using imported raw materials. They explained that it’s challenging to source domestic soybeans and flour, which are key ingredients in Korea’s soy product industry. To comply with the law, they are planning to transfer the related product’s production to other companies.
The company also expressed deep regret for the controversy, stating they will take this as an opportunity to check for compliance with other laws to prevent recurrence.
Baek Jong-won and The Born Korea have been embroiled in various controversies since the beginning of the year. Criticism arose over the pricing of a “Paekham Gift Set” during the Lunar New Year, which was deemed excessively expensive compared to leading competitors. Baek’s YouTube channel faced fines after a video showed cooking next to an LPG tank. Moreover, there was controversy over the use of Brazilian chicken in meal kit products promoted to support local farmers and issues with the content of tangerine beer. Recently, allegations of violating the Farmland Act and Mountain Management Act related to the Baekseok factory and the Yeodeok Academy Foundation have also surfaced.