25.05.05.Today News : 14 Hospitalized in Wando Resort CO Leak / Baek Jong-won Charged for False Deopjuk Ads

1. 14 Hospitalized in Wando Resort CO Leak

Fourteen guests were hospitalized after carbon monoxide gas leaked from a boiler room at a resort in Wando, South Jeolla Province, during the Children’s Day holiday.

According to Wando Police on the 5th, a gas leak was reported at 6:56 a.m. on the 4th from the 4th floor of a resort in Wando-eup, Wando County.

The 14 affected guests — five teenagers and nine adults — were taken to the hospital with symptoms including headaches and dizziness. Fortunately, none of them were in life-threatening condition.

During the incident, one resort manager and 69 other guests were also evacuated.

14 minor injuries to resort guests on Children's Day due to suspected carbon monoxide gas poisoning

Authorities believe the gas entered the rooms either due to poor ventilation or backflow of smoke from the resort's boiler room, and they are conducting a joint inspection.

In the 4th-floor rooms where most patients were concentrated, initial measurements by the fire department showed a carbon monoxide concentration of 400 ppm — eight times the normal level of 50 ppm.

At the time of the incident, the resort was reportedly being operated by only one manager, though the exact staffing situation remains unclear.

The resort, which opened in 2016 and has 109 rooms, is now under a complete access ban.

With local festivals underway, the resort was believed to be more crowded than usual.

Authorities are investigating whether a carbon monoxide detector was functioning and the exact route of the gas leak.

Police plan to charge those responsible with professional negligence if the boiler malfunction was due to poor maintenance.

One-line summary : Fourteen people were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide exposure at a resort in Wando on Children's Day.

---

---

2. Baek Jong-won Charged for False Deopjuk Ads

Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, has been additionally charged for allegedly violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act.

According to industry sources on the 5th, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station is investigating Baek and his company, The Born Korea, for using false or exaggerated advertising.

Previously, the Gangnam District Office referred The Born Korea to the police on April 29 for suspected violations of the “Act on Labeling and Advertising of Food Products.”

CEO Baek Jong-won is another controversial figure.

The Born Korea promoted its instant rice porridge product “Deopjuk” with phrases like “Made with Korean kelp, shrimp, and anchovies” and “The highlight topping of plump, wild-caught shrimp.” However, the product’s ingredients list indicated the shrimp were “Vietnamese.”

This led to allegations that the company falsely advertised Vietnamese farmed shrimp as Korean wild-caught shrimp. Based on a complaint filed via the national civil complaint portal, the district office accused The Born Korea of violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act and issued corrective measures.

Police have completed an initial investigation of the district office as the complainant.

The Born Korea has been embroiled in various controversies this year, including underreported pork content in its “Baekham” processed meat, false origin claims for some Paik’s Coffee products, underfilled tangerine beer ingredients, and violations of farmland law.

....
CEO Baek Jong-won has been criminally charged over false advertising allegations related to his rice porridge product.

One-line summary :CEO Baek Jong-won has been criminally charged over false advertising allegations related to his rice porridge product.