Popular Tteokbokki Chain Faces Sanitation Law Violations, Raising Public Safety Concerns
Seoul, South Korea – A leading tteokbokki franchise, beloved by young Koreans and increasingly recognized internationally as a symbol of “K-snacks,” is facing scrutiny over repeated violations of the Food Sanitation Law. Data reveals the chain has topped the list of offenders over the past five years, sparking concerns about food safety standards within the industry.
The number of violations has fluctuated in recent years, decreasing from 52 in 2020 to 40 in 2021, before surging to 71 in 2022. Numbers settled to 68 cases in 2023 and 49 cases in 2024. These infractions, ranging from inadequate hygiene education to failures in meeting established criteria and specifications, underscore a systemic issue requiring immediate attention. The findings come as the tteokbokki market experiences a surge in popularity, especially among the MZ generation, making the need for stringent safety measures all the more critical.
A critically important portion of the violations – 110 cases,representing 37% of the total – involved failures to meet established criteria and specifications. Hygiene education deficiencies accounted for 93 cases, while “health diagnosis” and “hygienic criteria” violations totaled 40 and 38 cases, respectively. Mandatory food safety training, requiring six hours of instruction annually for food handlers, was frequently cited as unmet.
Dongdaemun Bizarre Tteokbokki accounted for the majority of the infractions, with 59 cases (65.6%) attributed to the location. Temple Tteokbokki followed with 26 cases (29.2%) related to criteria and standard violations and hygiene education lapses. The Young Coffee shop recorded 20 cases (37.0%) of violations.
“I am very concerned that the violation of the Food Sanitation Law,which threatens the national safety in the tteokbokki franchise,which leads K-snacks and is loved by young people,” stated representative Jang,highlighting the potential risks to public health.
The findings, reported by JoongAng Ilbo reporter Kim Eun-bin, are prompting calls for increased oversight and stricter enforcement of food safety regulations within the tteokbokki industry. Authorities are expected to review current practices and implement measures to ensure compliance and protect consumers.
