‘Slow-Aging Doctor’ Disappears from Hetbahn and Soy Milk Packaging... Food Industry Distances Itself from Hee-Won Jung

[Financial News] The food industry, which had collaborated extensively with Dr. Hee-Won Jung, who sparked the ‘slow-aging’ trend, has moved quickly to sever ties following recent controversies surrounding his private life. As Jung faces allegations including indecent assault, the repercussions are spreading throughout the food sector.
On the 22nd, CJ CheilJedang announced that it had ended its partnership with Jung. The company replaced the packaging of its Hetbahn Rice Plan products, such as Lentil Brown Rice and Faro Whole Grain Rice, which were based on Jung’s recipes, and also removed related promotional materials from its website.
Maeil Dairies has reportedly erased references to Jung from promotional materials for its Maeil Soy Milk Lentil products, which were developed in collaboration with him. Dubo Foods has also withdrawn all Slow-aging Customized Grains products, launched with Jung last August, from online sales platforms.
With the growing trend toward health consciousness, both Jung and the concept of ‘slow-aging’ gained significant attention, leading various food and retail companies to collaborate with him on numerous product launches. Earlier this year, Jung introduced a protein bar with CJ CheilJedang and participated in the development of five Slow-Aging Ready-to-Eat Meals released by 7-Eleven.
Meanwhile, Jung filed a complaint against a woman in her 30s, who had worked as a commissioned researcher at his lab, accusing her of attempted blackmail and trespassing after alleging she had stalked him. In response, the woman countersued, accusing Jung of indecent assault and describing the case as ‘gender-based violence arising from a power imbalance.’
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter