Amid Baek Jong-won's controversy bombshell... More than half of the 25 dining brands under The Born have closed down.

More than half of the restaurant brands under The Born Korea, led by culinary researcher Baek Jong-won, experienced a decrease in the number of stores last year.

For example, in the case of "Yeondon Bolkatsu," which has been in conflict with Daebon Korea since last year among some franchise owners, not a single new store opened while 18 stores closed last year.

The number of 'Saemaul Restaurants' decreased from 101 last year to 92 this year, as the labor authorities are investigating the controversy over the 'employee blacklist'.

'Backs Bière' also saw a decrease in the number of stores from 79 last year to 69 this year, and other brands such as Makieoreum, Dolbaegi House, Ricun Market, Insaeng Seolleongtang, Hong Kong Bunsik, Mijeong Noodle 0410, Seongseong Restaurant, GoToWork, and Bonga also reduced their store counts. In the case of 'Baekcheolpan 0410,' all three stores closed last year.

Meanwhile, CEO Baek and The Born Korea have been struggling since the beginning of this year with the 'Backham controversy.' Criticism arose over the original price and ingredients of Backham, and during the process of CEO Baek's explanation on a YouTube channel, he displayed an attitude of entitlement, which angered consumers.

Since then, CEO Baek and The Born Korea have been embroiled in various controversies, including 'Brazilian chicken meal kits,' 'tangerine beer content,' 'targeted and retaliatory opening of apples at Yesan Market,' 'pesticide-contaminated apple juice,' 'cooking with rusty engine oil drums,' 'Baekdabang plastic containers,' 'use of construction materials for barbecue grills,' 'unilateral notification of festival portrait rights,' and 'local government irregular direct contracts.'

In addition, there are legal issues such as receiving a fine for violating the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act, being prosecuted for violations of the Farmland Act and Building Act, and being criminally charged twice for violations of the Origin Labeling Act and the Food Advertising and Labeling Act.

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It's becoming increasingly secluded in the mountains...