Online Trading of Fake Goods Increases

The Korean government has confiscated a total of 11.3 million items of counterfeit goods worth 48.9 billion won in the last 10 years.

The Korean government has seized a total of 11.3 million items of counterfeit goods worth 48.9 billion won in the last 10 years (2010-2919).

Counterfeit goods continue to be illegally traded online and offline. Recently, as damage from online trading of fake goods grows, calls are growing for toughened punishment for their distributors and sellers and an increase in the number of crackdown personnel.

According to the data submitted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office to Rep. Lee Yong-joo on the Industry, Trade and Energy Committee of the National Assembly, counterfeit goods seized over the past 10 years from August 2010 to July 2019 added up to 11.3 million units worth 48.19 billion won.

The most seized items were cosmetics with 788,000 items, followed by 642,000 health food items, 589,000 medicines, and 338,000 bags.

The Korea Intellectual Property Office launched a special judicial police squad in 2010 to crack down on illegal distribution of counterfeit goods. The squad has offices in three cities - Seoul, Busan and Daejeon – and consists of 26 officers.

Production and distribution of counterfeit goods through offline channels is on the decline due to strengthened crackdowns on homegrown counterfeit goods. Yet, damage through online channels such as open markets and SNS is growing.

Copyright © BusinessKorea. Prohibited from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution