Lee Hyori reported to the agriculture division for labeling her beans as 'organic' without certification

Earlier this month, Lee Hyori decided to participate in a small village market gathering near her home with beans she farmed herself. She made signs for her beans herself and had labeled them 'organic'. However, this honest mistake soon got her into some trouble as she was reported for claiming her products to be organic without an official certification.

According to the Environmentally Friendly Agriculture Promotion Act, to label a product for sale as 'organic', one needs to get certified through an inspection to ensure that the product meets the requirements of being organic. If this regulation is violated knowingly, then one can be struck with a 3-year-plus jail sentence or a fine of at least 30 million KRW (~27,200 USD). However, if the regulation was violated unknowingly, the individual can be just let off with a warning.

Her agency B2M Entertainment rep told OSEN on the 27th, "Lee Hyori wasn't aware that she needed to get certified to label something organic. She grew the beans at her house herself and sold it at a direct trade market in a village... The National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) has requested an investigation, and we were contacted by them saying they need to check to see if she cultivated it on her own. We are waiting for the results."

The NAQS responded in a phone interview with Star Today, stating, "We received a report that Lee Hyori labeled her uncertified beans as 'organic'... We are still processing the issue so it is too early to reveal any other details."

Since it seems like it was just an honest mistake and something sold at a small market trade, it's currently expected that Hyori will be let off the hook.