Paik Jongwon Halts Broadcasting, Vows Reform at The Born Korea
May 06, 2025
|
In a video statement on the 6th, Jongwon Baek said, "Once again, I sincerely apologize for the various issues that have been raised intensively this year.""As a businessman, not a broadcaster, I will do my best to change and leap forward in Dubon Korea." he said.
He then vowed to "identify the root causes of problems such as quality, food safety, and hygiene and to improve them one by one" and make 2025 the second first year of business through organizational reform".
It also emphasized co-prosperity with franchisees. CEO Baek said, `I'm meeting with the owners in person and listening to the voices of the desperate field"We will soon implement a large-scale support plan with the determination to share the profits of the headquarters."
Finally, he said, `If I hurt someone in broadcasting activities, it's my fault and I'll stop all broadcasting activities except for the programs I'm currently filming," he added.
CEO Baek said, `I'll go back to the beginning and start again," he bowed and apologized.
Meanwhile, Jongwon Baek has recently been embroiled in various controversies, including violations of laws such as sanitation and farmland laws, interviews with executives for drinking, errors in labeling the country of origin, and industrial metal cooking utensils.
In response, Dubon Korea promised to renovate its overall organizational culture and work system through its statement, but the controversy continues.
▶The following is the full text of Jongwon Baek's position.
Hello.
This is Durbon Korea's representative Jongwon Baek.
We have apologized in writing and through the general shareholders' meeting for the many issues and criticisms that have been raised this year, but today, we would like to bow down directly to you through a video.
In the meantime, I've been taking time to reflect deeply on myself, and looking at and reorganizing the entire organization in relation to various problems of the company, so I'm here now.
We are identifying the root causes of all other issues, including quality, food safety, and festival site hygiene, and improving them one by one.
All the problems are with me.
I realized that I have to change to make a real difference.
We will reform the organization with a determination to cut the bones and change the corporate culture through communication with all employees.
We will make 2025 the second year of the founding of Dubon Korea completely new.
What is most heartbreaking now is the desperate situation of franchise owners.
The franchisees are partners and family members of Dubon Korea.
Immediately after preparing emergency support measures, we visit the site and hear the voices of the store owners.
In the process of contemplating with the store owners "From now on, I can't leave a single store owner behind." is determined.
Apart from the emergency support measures already announced, we will implement a full support plan for each brand.
We will operate a large-scale support plan next week with the mind of sharing the profits of the headquarters with franchisees.
We will create a virtuous cycle structure in which the headquarters succeeds only when the affiliated stores succeed and gives good results to shareholders through it.
To go far with the franchisees, I will not let go until the end.
We sincerely ask for your warm support for the franchisees of Dubon Korea who are trying new things.
As a representative of a listed company, I am well aware of the recent scary suspicion of 'broadcasting power abuse' along with concerns about simultaneous broadcasting activities.
This is also my fault.
The will of the critics is also strictly understood.
In the process of completing good broadcast content, if my words or actions hurt someone, it is my responsibility and negligence.
I should have been more humble as I received too much love.
I bow my head to extend my apology.
From now on, I will stop all broadcasting activities except for the programs currently being filmed.
Now, as Baek Jong-won, a businessman, not a broadcaster, I will focus all my passion and all my energy on the growth of Dubon Korea.
We will work hard to restore the company's trust and further expand to the global stage.
We will also report directly on overseas expansion and corporate acquisitions as soon as possible.
Once again, I deeply apologize to everyone who is disappointed about me.
I vividly remember the overwhelming excitement of the day when I first opened my own small store and the heavy responsibility I felt on the first day of listing in Dubon Korea.
Reflecting on that initial intention, we will start from the beginning again by looking only at franchisees, shareholders, and customers. Thank you.
narusi@sportschosun.com
