Korea Customs Service: "44,000 Masks Seized at Customs to Be Distributed to Vulnerable Groups"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Approximately 44,000 masks confiscated while attempting to pass through customs via illegal routes such as smuggling will be distributed to vulnerable groups.

On the 16th, the Korea Customs Service announced that it had handed over about 15,000 masks confiscated at customs to the Korea National Council on Social Welfare free of charge, enabling their distribution to vulnerable groups within the country.

From the 18th of last month until this day, the Korea Customs Service has delivered a total of approximately 44,000 masks to vulnerable groups over seven occasions.

Previously, since the 6th of last month, the Korea Customs Service has strengthened export customs clearance management to facilitate the domestic supply of masks, uncovering 150 cases involving about 770,000 masks being illegally exported.

Among these, 21 cases involving about 430,000 masks violated related laws such as smuggling and were seized at customs, with some being distributed to vulnerable groups through organizations like the Korea National Council on Social Welfare.

Additionally, for the seized items related to prosecuted cases, after investigation and consultation with the prosecution, about 370,000 masks were supplied by the Public Procurement Service to official sales outlets.

A Korea Customs Service official stated, “We will continue to strengthen customs clearance management of masks and other items to ensure a smooth domestic supply of masks.”