BTS’s Jin and Baek Jong-won’s Company Under Investigation for Alleged Origin Labeling Violation



 Seoul – September 23, 2025

JINI’s LAMP, the company co-founded by Jin of global K-pop group BTS and renowned restaurateur Baek Jong-won, has been reported to the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) over allegations of misleading origin labeling on some of its products.


Complaint Filed

According to a report by TenAsia on September 23, an individual identified as “Mr. A” filed an official petition on September 22 through the government’s online petition system. The complaint accused JINI’s LAMP of mislabeling the origin of ingredients used in its IGIN Highball beverages, specifically the watermelon and plum flavors.



The petitioner claimed that while the products contained imported ingredients—such as plum concentrate from Chile and watermelon concentrate from the United States—some product descriptions on the company’s official website incorrectly suggested that the ingredients were sourced domestically, potentially misleading consumers into believing the beverages were made entirely from Korean produce.


Response from Authorities

NAQS confirmed that its local office in Yesan has launched an investigation. A representative of the agency stated:

> “If any violations are confirmed, the case will be referred to judicial authorities, and administrative penalties will be applied depending on the severity of the offense. We will thoroughly review the matter from beginning to end.”



Company’s Position

In response to the controversy, JINI’s LAMP released a brief statement saying the issue is currently “under review” and declined to provide further comments.


Legal Context

Under South Korea’s Origin Labeling Act, processed agricultural and fishery products can only be labeled as “domestic” if all ingredients—excluding water, additives, and sugar—are sourced from Korea.

Violations, including providing misleading origin information, are punishable by up to seven years in prison or fines of up to 100 million KRW (approximately $73,000 USD).


Background on JINI’s LAMP

Founded in December 2022, JINI’s LAMP is headquartered in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province. The company oversees the production of the IGIN brand, while distribution is handled by Yesan Doga, a subsidiary of Baek’s The Born Korea.

The brand quickly gained attention in the Korean beverage market, largely thanks to Jin’s global star power and Baek Jong-won’s established reputation in the food and beverage industry.



Current Situation

As of now, the investigation remains ongoing, with no confirmed violations or penalties announced. The case has drawn widespread public attention, as fans and consumers alike await further updates on whether the company will face lega

l or administrative consequences.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taehyung and Wonyoung Dating Rumors Spark Heated Debate in K-Pop

Image
In late September 2025, social media platforms across China, Korea, and the global K-pop fandom were set abuzz with fresh dating rumors involving Kim Taehyung (V) of BTS and Jang Wonyoung of IVE. The controversy began after a so-called “list of evidence” compiled by a user on the Chinese platform Douban went viral, drawing intense reactions and dividing fans into believers and skeptics. How the rumors began The speculation first surfaced when a Douban user published a lengthy post collecting dozens of alleged “clues” that pointed toward a secret romantic relationship between the two idols. The post quickly spread beyond Chinese platforms, making its way into Korean media outlets and international fan spaces. Unlike casual gossip, this list presented multiple examples that seemed to show suspicious overlaps between Taehyung’s and Wonyoung’s activities, sparking debate over whether these were coincidences or hidden signals. The alleged evidence One of the most widely discussed claims cam...
Read more

The Korean Hunger Games: When a Cancer Charity Turned into a Celebrity Spectacle

Image
 On the night of October 15, 2025, W Korea magazine held its annual “Love Your W” breast cancer awareness event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. What was meant to be a humanitarian occasion, however, turned into what many described as a glamorous party lacking any sense of awareness or respect for the sensitivity of the cause. From the very start, the red carpet looks drew more attention than the message of the campaign — particularly that of aespa’s Karina, whose outfit became the center of controversy. She wore a revealing black dress that was widely deemed inappropriate for a cancer awareness event, looking more like someone attending a nightclub than a charity campaign supporting women with breast cancer.  The criticism intensified after cameras captured her filming a TikTok dance challenge  , and laughing and dancing in a way many found  disrespectful to the campaign’s purpose withBTS member V (Taehyung) during the event. Taehyung himself faced similar backla...
Read more