Pork belly should include meat, Korean Food Ministry reminds sellers

The move comes after the samgyeopsal handed out as donation favors by Michuhol District, Incheon, was criticized online by recipients for containing too much fat and too little flesh.

The Food Ministry re-issued a manual for samgyeopsal, or pork belly, that determines the appropriate amount of fat in each slice. [MINISTRY FOR FOOD, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES]

The government is reminding businesses in the livestock industry to adhere to its manual for samgyeopsal, or pork belly, that determines the appropriate amount of fat in each slice.

The guideline was re-issued to businesses in the livestock industry, including supermarket brands and the Korea Meat Industries Association, said the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Tuesday.

The move comes after the samgyeopsal handed out as donation favors by Michuhol District, Incheon, was criticized online by recipients for containing too much fat and too little flesh.

An online community user uploaded this photo in criticism of the pork belly that they received as donation favors as part of the hometown donation program from Michuhol District, Incheon. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The manual was created in June last year after some retailers faced backlash after selling pork belly primarily consisting of fat for sale events on samgyeopsal day, which falls on March 3.

A slice of samgyeopsal should have less than 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) width of fat while ogyeopsal, which includes the skin, should have less than 1.5 centimeters of fat, according to the manual. The guideline recommends that any fat exceeding the proper amount should be cut off, or the whole slice should be thrown away.

The guideline, however, is not legally binding and may be difficult to enforce as consumers' preferences for the amount of fat differ depending on the cut and use.

Pork, like beef, is certified for quality using a grade system, but unlike beef, retailers such as supermarkets and butcher shops can voluntarily decide whether they want to mark it with the grade or not.

“We re-issued the manual because pork belly with too much fat had recently been reported, even after the samgyeopsal day incident,” a Food Ministry worker said. “Specific explanations are given in accordance to each processing stage.”

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]