‘Eco-friendly’ labels are often fake (South Korea)

JoongAng Daily ^ | 10/17/2013 | Min Kyung-hwon

[TexGrill]

A massive fraud in local governments’ certifications of supposedly eco-friendly food products was investigated and public servants indicted, the prosecution said yesterday.

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday announced the result of its investigation into alleged corruption in eco-friendly food product certifications. A 59-year-old deputy governor of Jangseong County in South Jeolla was indicted on charges of falsifying public records and dereliction of duty. Ten other people face prosecution in similiar schemes and all 11 are being detained until trials.

The prosecutors said it will press charges against 15 others without detaining them.

According to the prosecution, the deputy county governor, only identified by his surname Park, decided to falsify records of eco-friendly agricultural products from January to March because the South Jeolla Provincial Government uses the eco-friendly program as grounds for promotions. By colluding with a private certification board, Park certified 395 farmers as producers of eco-friendly products and paid the board 300 million won ($281,426) in return.

The prosecution said Park became aware that Jangseong County was at the bottom of the list of eco-friendly agricultural certifications in South Jeolla on Dec. 20, 2012. Within 10 days, he gave false certificates to 8 square kilometers (3.1 square miles) of the land inside the county. As a result, Jangseong won the eco-friendly agriculture award in 2012 and the county won 150 million won in prize money.

Park allegedly coerced civil servants in the county to forge the records. During this process, a farmer who used pesticides won an eco-friendly certificate.

[TexGrill]

I lived in South Korea when there was a nationwide campaign to promote healthy food. Companies would place labels that said its food has earned a "Well-Being" certificate. You would see these green stickers everywhere. However, I became suspicious when Burger King began selling 'Well Being' Whopper Meals.

[GeronL]

wow

solyndra stickers

[GeronL]

Within 10 days, he gave false certificates to 8 square kilometers (3.1 square miles) of the land inside the county. As a result, Jangseong won the eco-friendly agriculture award in 2012 and the county won 150 million won in prize money.

how subtle,lol