Operator sold Chinese frozen eel online as locally caught, distributing 72 tons; forged origin certificates to evade inspections; referred to prosecutors

Chinese frozen freshwater eel seized after being sold under false domestic origin labels. [National Fishery Products Quality Management Service]
Chinese frozen freshwater eel seized after being sold under false domestic origin labels. [National Fishery Products Quality Management Service]

A seafood distributor who sold Chinese freshwater eel online while falsely labeling it as domestic has been referred to prosecutors. The operator pocketed 2.6 billion won ($1.68 million) in illicit gains by repackaging frozen Chinese eel in boxes bearing domestic origin labels — a scheme known as "box-switching."

The National Fishery Products Quality Management Service said Monday it had referred the distributor, identified only as A, to prosecutors on charges of violating the Act on Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products. A had sold Chinese frozen freshwater eel online by passing it off as "same-day-prepared domestic product."

A is accused of relabeling 72 tons of Chinese frozen freshwater eel as domestic over roughly 18 months, from July 2024 to December 2025. The total value of the violations reached approximately 2.6 billion won.

According to the agency, A placed Chinese eel into packaging boxes bearing domestic origin labels and also forged origin certificates in an attempt to evade inspections. Investigators secured evidence through on-site searches and seizures.

The case exploited the price gap between domestically farmed and Chinese eel. The agency said the fraud also harmed domestic eel farmers, who have already been struggling with falling prices for locally raised eel.

"We will continue to strengthen enforcement against origin-labeling violations by sharing information with relevant organizations to protect both producers and consumers," said Jo Il-hwan, head of the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service. He urged anyone who suspects a mislabeling violation to report it through the agency's hotline or its KakaoTalk channel "수산물원산지표시."


adastra@heraldcorp.com