South Korean authorities bust 4.5 billion won counterfeit goods ring

South Korean authorities have uncovered a large-scale operation involving the illegal importation and distribution of counterfeit cosmetics, health functional foods, and household goods. A broker, identified as individual A, conspired with manufacturers in Shenzhen, China, to smuggle approximately 100,000 counterfeit items into South Korea, generating roughly 4.5 billion won in sales.

The investigation, conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in cooperation with intellectual property authorities, was triggered by reports of suspicious packaging and certification marks on major online open markets, including Coupang and Naver. Of the total smuggled goods, over 82,000 items had already been distributed, while approximately 18,000 items valued at 1.3 billion won were seized from a warehouse in Cheongju.

Counterfeit products included 28 types of famous cosmetic brands such as Estée Lauder, Lancôme, and Korean brands like Kahi and Beauty of Joseon. Additionally, popular health supplement brands like Korea Eundan were imitated. The seized items also included counterfeit Nike shoes, Brita water filters, and Titleist golf bags.

Testing by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety revealed that the counterfeit cosmetics and health supplements lacked the functional ingredients and indicator substances required for their stated purposes. Authorities warned that these products did not undergo any quality control and could pose safety risks to consumers.