Customs infractions close Dunkin’ Donuts factory

A Dunkin’ Donuts factory in Seoul was ordered to suspend operations temporarily by the Geumcheon district office for two months beginning May 8. The factory provides donuts to Dunkin’ Donuts stores in western Seoul and Gyeonggi province.
Eight other factories throughout the nation also face possible shut-down by their respective local governments.
The Seoul regional office of the Korea Food and Drug Administration recently acknowledged that BR Korea, the operator of Dunkin’ Donuts, did not properly report the import of two magnesium-based additives, Filter Clean and Magnesol, and circumvented quarantine procedures for the additives in April 2004 and September 2006.
The company claimed that it was just a mistake made by their customs agent and filed for an injunction to keep the factory open at the Seoul Administration Court. “The additives are just used to filter the oil used in making the donuts,” said Yoon Seok-min, manager at the company. “They have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and are removed during the final stage.”
Dunkin’ Donuts held 80 percent of the domestic market for donuts, selling 300 billion won worth of the pastries last year.

By Hwang Young-jin Staff Writer [yhwang@joongang.co.kr]