Restauranteurs Alert over Paparazzi
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The government is to provide financial incentives to people who uncover businesses violating the rules on correctly identifying the country of origin of meat. But it is feared the plan could have an unintended side effect, namely encouraging ``professional'' whistleblowers.
From Tuesday, retailers, restaurant owners and anyone involved in beef distribution must identify the country of origin of their products. The decision was made to assuage public concern over the safety of American beef imports. People reporting violations of the rule will be rewarded with between 50,000 won and 2 million won.
The incentive system has been introduced to reinforce the 650 public officials tasked to inspect more than 640,000 eateries nationwide.
However, the ``professionals,'' called by the Konglish use of the term ``paparazzi'' here, are looking to make a killing. Some private institutes have even opened special courses for paparazzi so they can learn how to take pictures and report violators to the authorities to earn a living.
Critics say that these ``paparazzi'' will seek other illegal ways to make money.
They allege that many will try to blackmail offenders.
In a similar but unrelated case, a consumer tried to extort money from snack maker Samlip by claiming he had found a worm inside one of its buns. It was later revealed that the man put it in the bread himself.
Restaurant owners and beef vendors are asking the government not to offer cash rewards.
One group of owners threatened to shut their shops rather than risk being blackmailed over a small piece of meat used in soup.
``Can you tell whether a tiny piece of beef in your fried rice is from Korea, Australia or America? I don't think you can. Even I couldn't tell the difference if my supplier lies,'' a small-snack restaurant owner in northern Seoul said. ``But once a rumor spreads that we are using U.S. beef without labeling it as such, regardless of its authenticity, it will adversely affect our sales.'' She also worried about possible blackmailers.
At the moment, there are 52 fields subject to civic monitoring, including violating the rules governing traffic, the Election Law, trash management, tax waivers, the sex trade and littering cigarette butts. More than 7.2 billion won is paid out every year to those reporting violations.
The government recently decided to reduce the rewards given to these ``civic monitors.'' In June, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security said it planned to reduce the reward money paid out or replace it with gifts. ``Since most of the reporters are not local residents but professional reward hunters, the system is not effective anymore,'' the ministry spokesman said.
Former Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun also admitted to the side effect of ``paparazzi.'' He said last month, ``Legal loopholes must be closed to block the spread of blackmailers.''