72 Tons of Chinese Eel Sold as 'Domestic' in South Korea; Distributor Caught

South Korean authorities have apprehended a seafood distributor for allegedly mislabeling and selling approximately 72 tons of Chinese-origin frozen eel as domestic product over a period of about 18 months. The distributor is accused of profiting around 2.6 billion won (approximately $1.8 million USD) through this fraudulent scheme.

The National Fisheries Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) has transferred the case to prosecutors, citing violations of the Act on Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products. Investigations revealed that the distributor, identified as 'A', intentionally misrepresented the Chinese frozen eel as "freshly prepared domestic product" on online shopping platforms between July 2024 and December 2025.

This deceptive practice was reportedly driven by the price difference between domestic and imported eels. The NFQS highlighted that this incident has caused significant damage to domestic eel farmers, who are already struggling with declining market prices for their products. The agency emphasized that such fraudulent activities undermine the livelihoods of local producers and mislead consumers.

Under South Korea's origin labeling laws, false representation of origin can lead to imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million won. For large-scale and prolonged violations like this case, additional penalties, including administrative fines up to five times the value of the illicit gains and permanent public disclosure of the company's name and violation details, may be imposed. The NFQS pledged to strengthen crackdowns in cooperation with relevant organizations, such as the Korean Freshwater Eel Producers Association, to protect both producers and consumers.