Thought It Was Domestic Amberjack... Turns Out It Was Japanese, Owner Pocketed 150 Million Won

[Financial News] A restaurant owner in his 40s received a suspended prison sentence after selling Japanese Amberjack disguised as domestically produced Japanese amberjack.
According to legal sources on the 18th, Shim Hak-sik, the presiding judge of the Busan District Court Criminal Division 7, sentenced Mr. A to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the Act on Origin Labeling of Agricultural and Fishery Products.
Mr. A, who runs a sashimi restaurant in Busan, was accused of falsely labeling 3,716.4 kilograms of Japanese Amberjack as domestically produced Japanese amberjack and selling them over a period of about two months from December 2023 to January 2024.
It was reported that Mr. A sold the amberjack at about 40,000 won per kilogram, which was higher than the market price, earning a total revenue of approximately 148.65 million won.
The court stated, "Falsely labeling the origin of agricultural and fishery products undermines distribution order and erodes consumer trust, so strict punishment is necessary." However, the judge also noted, "The defendant admitted to the crime, showed remorse, and had no prior convictions for similar offenses, which were considered in sentencing."


hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter