Sikparazzi

South Koreans who report sub-standard food vendors for reward.(A portmanteau of the Korean for food, sik, and paparazzi.)

According to The Korea Times, from March 2009, the country’s food and drug administration will offer 30,000 won ($21) for sikparazzi reports of food containing foreign bodies such as blades, glass, and metal; 70,000 won ($52) for reports of out-of-date food and substandard water; 100,000 won ($73) for reports of incorrect country of origin labeling; and 100,000–150,000 won ($73–$110) for reports of the unauthorized import or distribution of food.

This government initiative comes at a time when confidence in Korea’s food supply has been shaken by a series of scandals, from the discovery of rat’s head in a bag of shrimp snacks to mass protests against the import of U.S. beef.

The Korea Times reported:

Just as paparazzi follow Hollywood stars for a living, hoping to catch them slipping up on film – many so-called sikparazzi … will be checking up on restaurants and food vendors to detect unhygienic, inappropriate or fake ingredients, also in the hopes of a payday.