The genes of Korean beef being sold at restaurants larger than 300㎡located in Seoul are analyzed
“Beef of milk cows and imported cows are changed into Korean beef at 16% of the restaurantsthat must show the origin of meat”
Seoul YWCA
The following are the results of the inspection.
▣ Purchase of specimens:Aug. 22, 2007 ~ Aug, 30
▣ Period of Analysis: Sep. 3 ~ Sep. 17, 2007
▣ Objects of inspection: the 115 restaurants located in Seoul and larger than 300㎡which claim that they are selling Korean beef and are subject to the system of the indication of the origin of meat. They were selected in random.
▣ Analysis agency: Test & Examination Bureau, Korea Consumers Association
▣ Survey results
Among the restaurants larger than 300㎡located in Seoul that are subject to the system of the indication of the origin of meat the 109 places of which menus had Korean beef (mainly unfrozen sirloin, Jumuleok, seasoned Galbi and seasoned Bulgogi) were chosen randomly and their meat was sent out for analysis. The results of the analysis were: while 97 places (89%) sold genuine Korean beef, 12 restaurants (11%) among the restaurants did not use Korean beef but used the meat of beef cattle, milk cows or imported cows.
The 12 restaurants which disguised the meat of milk cows or imported cows as genuineKoeran beef were: U restaurant in Jongno-gu (seasoned Galbi), M restaurant (seasoned Galbi), N restaurant (Jumuleok) and J restaurant (seasoned Bulgogi) in Jung-gu, U restaurant in Junglang-gu (unfrozen sirloin), S restaurant in Eunpyeong-gu (raw meat), J restaurant (unfrozen sirloin) in Mapo-gu, S restaurant (unfrozen Galbi) and D restaurant (unfrozen sirloin) in Yangcheon-gu, H restaurant (seasoned Bulgogi) in Yeongdeungpo-gu, C restaurant (seasoned Bulgogi) in Seocho-gu and C restaurant (seasoned Bulgogi) in Gangnam-gu.
Among them the name of one place (H restaurant) can be easily misunderstood as they are selling genuine Korean beef only, and 3 other restaurants include their name signifying genuine Korean beef in their receipt thus deliberately deceiving customers.
Moreover, considering that most of the restaurants larger than 300㎡that are subject to the system of the indication of the origin of the meat are exemplary restaurants which claim to use Korean beef only, the ratio of11% is a rather high and their behavior of transforming the meat of milk cows, beef cattle or imported beef is more serious in that they must be exemplary.
Moreover, with the thoughts in mind that the inspection this time was limited to a part of the menus at some of the restaurants larger than 300㎡, the phenomenon will be much more serious if the objects of inspection are expanded to all the menus at restaurants larger than 300㎡or to all the ordinary restaurants in Seoul which amount to more than 120,000 places.
In a similar inspection conducted by YWCA in 2004 (for 41 restaurants) and 2005 (80 restaurants), such cases of illegal dealing were committed by 29% and 30% in respective year.
As such phenomena continue to occur, it is recommended that the existing system of the indication of the origin of meat does not stop with the marking of the name of the restaurants and the inspection of the documents of the place of origin issued by the sellers of the meat but be extended to a more active and positive methods such as the regular DNA examination for the meat supplied to procure the ‘Korean meat’ in a safe and reliable manner. The government will have to expand and settle the ‘system of the indication of the origin of meat’ more actively and prepare fundamental measures to accomplish the goal to develop the industry of Korean beef, satisfy consumers’ rights to know and secure safe dining table.
<Table 1> Results of the examination of Korean beef using gene analysis
Gu (District) / No. of specimen / Restaurant Name / Menu / JudgmentJongno-gu / 1 / Gulilgwan / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Korean Beef
3 / Migang / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Korean Beef
4 / NaksanGarden / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
Geumcheon-gu / 6 / Hanseong / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
7 / Chongche Barley Beef Distribution Ltd. / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
8 / Chadolbagi / Korean Beef
9 / U Restaurant / Seasoned
Galbi / Not Korean Beef
Gangseo-
gu / 11 / Daebak Meat / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Korean Beef
12 / Gyeongbokgung / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
14 / Hamji Maru / Seasoned Jumuleok / Korean Beef
15 / AirportGarden / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
Yongsan-
gu / 16 / Bamboo Leaf Galbi / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
17 / Hanil Hall / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Korean Beef
18 / Hamgyeong Noodle & Meat / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
19 / Namhae Charcoal Galbi / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
Seongdong-gu / 20 / Hongcheon Yangjimal Brazier Roast / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
21 / Yurae Hall / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
Gwangjin-
gu / 24 / GardenPalace / Seasoned
Galbi / Korean Beef
26 / DaegaKoreanBeefVillage / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Korean Beef
27 / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
28 / Chio His Excellency / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
29 / Janggun (General) Galbi / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Korean Beef
Jung-gu / 30 / CheongmokGarden / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
31 / M Restaurant / Seasoned
Galbi / Not Korean Beef
32 / Korea Restaurant / Seasoned
Galbi / Korean Beef
33 / N Restaurant / Jumuleok / Not Korean Beef
34 / Myeongwon / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Korean Beef
35 / J Restaurant / Seasoned
Bulgogi / Not Korean Beef
Nowon-
gu / 37 / Cheongmijeong / Galbisal
Jumuleok / Korean Beef
Jungrang-
gu / 38 / U Restaurant / Unfrozen Sirloin / Not Korean Beef
39 / Sangbong Galbi / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
Nowon-
gu / 40 / Hanseon F.C. / Seasoned Galbi / Korean Beef
41 / Yetcheong Seokgol Genuine Charcoal Brazier Roast / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
42 / Mt.Taebaeksan Unfrozen Meat / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
43 / Cheongmijeong / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
Seongbuk-
gu / 44 / Hwarochon (BrazierVillage) / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
Gu (District) / No. of specimen / Restaurant Name / Menu / Judgment
Gangbuk-gu / 45 / Hwarogui (Brazier roast) / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
Dobong-gu / 46 / Sanwool Genuine Charcoal Galbi (former, Dchonjib House) / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
47 / Hanuso (Korean Beef) / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
Guro-gu / 48 / Socheonji (Beef everywhere) / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
Eunpyeong-
Gu / 49 / S Restaurant / Raw beef / Not Korean Beef
50 / Hyeongje(brother) Galbi / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
Seodaemun-
gu / 51 / Hyeongje(brother) Galbi / unfrozen Bulgogi / Korean Beef
Mapo-gu / 52 / Saeumteo Ltd. (former, Pungmugol) / Galbisal / Korean Beef
53 / Geogu Co., Ltd. / Seasoned Galbi / Korean Beef
54 / J Restaurant / Unfrozen Sirloin / Not Korean Beef
55 / NamdoGarden
(Namdo Real Seoleongtang) / Flower sirloin / Korean Beef
56 / Korea Hall / Flower sirloin / Korean Beef
57 / Ji-woo / Flower sirloin / Korean Beef
58 / Kim & Cho Co. Ltd. (Mapo Original Jumuleok) / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
Yangcheon-
gu / 59 / Jeong Ilpum (Real First Class) / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
60 / Suwon King Galbi / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
61 / S Restaurant / Unfrozen Galbi / Not Korean Beef
62 / Mr. Cho Galbi House / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
63 / D Restaurant / Unfrozen Sirloin / Not Korean Beef
Yeongdeungpo-gu / 64 / Chinese Juniper House / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
65 / Seasoned Galbi / Korean Beef
67 / Sea & Han River Land Yanghwa Ferry Point Co. Ltd. / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
68 / Bomsaem / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
69 / H Restaurant / Seasoned Bulgogi / Not Korean Beef
70 / Ne Korea Hall / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
71 / Yoido Korea Hall Co. Ltd. / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
72 / Roof Garden / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
Gwanak-gu / 74 / Cheongsong Noodle & Meat / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
75 / Ganggang sulae Shilim-dong main shop / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
76 / Sodeulneok (Cow Field) / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
77 / Unfrozen Sirloin / Korean Beef
78 / Hometown Animal Husbandry (former, My Hometown Korean Beef) / Flower sirloin / Korean Beef
Seocho-gu / 79 / Korea Hall / Seasoned Galbi / Korean Beef
80 / C Restaurant / Seasoned Bulgogi / Not Korean Beef
81 / Seocho Galbi / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
Gu (District) / No. of specimen / Restaurant Name / Menu / Judgment
Gangnam-gu / 82 / Neungsu Beodeul / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
83 / Wongang / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
84 / Changgo 43 / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
85 / Hanwooree Eat-out
Co,. Ltd. / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
86 / Cheonji-Woo
(Sky-Earth Beef) / Seasoned Galbisal / Korean Beef
87 / Nongwoo Shilla / Seasoned Korean Beef Bulgogi / Korean Beef
88 / Gwangyang Bulgogi (Roasted Beef) / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
89 / Wooraeok, Gangnam branch / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
90 / Gobawoo / Seasoned
Galbi / Korean Beef
91 / Salt Warehosue / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
92 / Korea Hall (Dogok Branch) / Galbisal / Korean Beef
93 / Sariwon / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
94 / Hamjin Industry Co. Ltd / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
95 / ByeokjeTowerPalace / Seasoned
Galbi / Korean Beef
96 / Woomin Trading Local Breed Butchery Co. Ltd. / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
97 / Manseok Distribution Daeho Co. Ltd. / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
98 / Gom Bawoo (Bear Rock) / Seasoned
Galbi / Korean Beef
99 / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
100 / Mt.Sobaek / Seasoned Galbisal / Korean Beef
101 / Brazier Roast / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
102 / Gom Bawoo (Bear Rock) Co. Ltd. / Galbisal / Korean Beef
103 / C Restaurant / Seasoned
Galbi / Korean Beef
104 / Seasoned Bulgogi / Not Korean Beef
105 / Famous Korean Beef House (former, deep garden tile house) / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
106 / Seasoned Galbi / Korean Beef
108 / Nokwon / Ddeokgalbi (roasted) / Korean Beef
109 / Genuine CharcoalVillage / Seasoned Galbi (roasted) / Korean Beef
110 / Chamsol (Real Pine) / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
111 / Mt.Mudeungsan / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
112 / SamwonGarden / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
Songpa-gu / 113 / Hotel Prima Co. Ltd., Punglyugwan Hall / Seasoned Galbi (roasted) / Korean Beef
115 / Dasong Galbi / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
116 / Dasong Galbi / Jumuleok / Korean Beef
117 / Woori Gangsan (Our land ) –
Bangyi Branch / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
118 / MyeonggungGarden / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
119 / Nabi (Butterfly) Garden / Korean beef Bulgogi / Korean Beef
120 / Brazier Grill Roast / Seasoned Bulgogi / Korean Beef
Gangdong-
gu / 121 / SammijeongGarden / Unfrozen
Sirloin / Korean Beef
▶ Inquiry (person in charge): Deputy General Mgr. Yong-Hee Jeong (02-3705-6064)
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