Nowon-gu Claims "Trusted KIPO When Purchasing" Regarding Reports on 'Unlicensed Mask Products'

A Company’s Products Are General Masks Not Requiring MFDS Certification, Distributed to Residents at Reasonable Prices Based on Experts’ Opinion That General Masks Are Effective Against COVID-19... The 200,000 Out of 1.1 Million Masks Purchased by the District Are General Masks but Have Filter Functions Comparable to Public Masks (KF94) and Hold a Patent (Droplet-Prevention Hygiene Mask), So the District Purchased Them Trusting the Patent Office

"In particular, the product from Company A purchased by Nowon-gu is a general mask that possesses filter functions equivalent to those of public masks," and "it has also received a patent (hygienic mask for droplet prevention) from the Korean Intellectual Property Office, with 200,000 out of the total 1.1 million masks distributed to residents being this product," he said.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) clarified regarding some media reports raising issues that the masks distributed to residents were unauthorized products, stating, "The product in question is a general mask, a commercial product that does not require certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The general masks were distributed to residents based on expert opinions that they also have preventive effects against COVID-19."

On the 29th, Nowon-gu refuted a media report claiming "the masks distributed to residents were unauthorized products," stating that the report was inaccurate.

The district said, "The product from Company A is a general mask, a commercial product that does not require certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety," and added, "Based on expert opinions that general masks are effective in preventing COVID-19, we purchased them at reasonable prices and distributed them to residents."

Furthermore, "In particular, the product from Company A purchased by Nowon-gu is a general mask but has filter functions comparable to public masks," and "it has also received a patent (hygienic mask for droplet prevention) from the Korean Intellectual Property Office, with 200,000 out of the total 1.1 million masks distributed to residents being this product," he said.

The district explained, "As COVID-19 spread, we quickly formed a task force team for purchasing quarantine supplies and signed supply contracts with Public Procurement Service contractors, but it was difficult to purchase masks because the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety restricted sales approvals," adding, "Mask prices also more than doubled within a month, causing further difficulties."

By personally visiting mask factories nationwide and persuading them, working tirelessly day and night, they collected 1.1 million masks, allowing distribution of two masks per resident. However, they explained, "Because it was difficult to purchase the same product all at once, masks were gathered from various sources, resulting in slight differences in quality."

Regarding mask purchase prices, they stated, "Due to mask supply measures and a five-day rotation system, the shortage peaked, demand exploded, and prices soared, but we judged that nothing is more important than protecting the safety and lives of residents, so we devoted all our efforts to purchasing masks."

They also added, "We have explained the circumstances multiple times to reporters, but since it was not properly reflected, it is truly heartbreaking that the efforts of staff who traveled nationwide, including Busan and Miryang, to procure masks with all their might have been disparaged," and "We apologize that our good intentions for residents have instead caused concern among them."

Additionally, a Nowon-gu official claimed, "When the mask shortage occurred, the internet price for public masks exceeded 4,000 won," and argued, "The current public mask price of 1,500 won is controlled by the government, so it is not being sold cheaply."

Meanwhile, Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said at a morning executive meeting on the 30th, "We hope COVID-19 stabilizes as soon as possible, but if difficult situations arise again, we will respond in the same way. Protecting the lives and health of residents is the priority," and added, "Like a parent's heart, we only want to put one more mask on our residents."