Seoul bans unsafe overseas‑purchased children’s water toys after hazardous‑substance tests

Seoul city inspected 20 children’s water‑play products—including tubes, swimwear, goggles, shoes and toys—sold on overseas e‑commerce platforms AliExpress, Temu and Shein. Six items failed to meet South Korea’s safety standards: two goggles, two tubes, one swimsuit and one pair of shoes. Tests revealed phthalate plasticisers up to 325 times the legal limit, cadmium up to 3.8 times, lead 17.3 times, and structural deficiencies such as thin tube walls and broken buckles that could pose choking hazards. The city has asked the platforms to halt sales of the non‑compliant products and urged consumers to verify safety certifications before purchasing. Seoul plans additional checks on 30 more children’s toys in August‑September, focusing on popular “soft‑touch” items.