Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Imported Goods Origin Labeling Violations

A member of the Gyeonggi-do Fair Trade Judicial Police is investigating a business violating the country of origin labeling for imported goods. Photo by Gyeonggi-do Fair Trade Special Judicial Police.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching a focused crackdown on violations of country of origin labeling for imported goods and counterfeit products.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit announced on the 5th that it will intensively investigate smuggled counterfeit goods and violations related to country of origin labeling on imported products.

The special judicial police unit will first conduct on-site, focused investigations starting this year into false country of origin labeling on daily necessities closely related to the lives of ordinary citizens, an area with no prior investigations until last year, to stabilize public livelihood.

The main investigation targets include ▲ distribution and sale of products with trademarks similar to others’ registered trademarks after opening online and offline shopping malls ▲ recruiting members and selling counterfeit goods via mobile apps ▲ unfair profits obtained through the use of counterfeit parts after opening private mobile phone repair shops ▲ distribution of counterfeit products harmful to public health ▲ and other trademark law infringement activities in general.

Additionally, investigative efforts will focus on online and offline sales targeting vulnerable consumer groups such as young workers, university students, and housewives. If necessary, expert appraisals will be obtained to investigate damage cases.

Kim Kwang-deok, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "We will continue efforts to eradicate unfair competition activities including the sale and distribution of counterfeit and falsely labeled country of origin products," and added, "Since victim reports are crucial clues due to the covert distribution structure of counterfeit and falsely labeled products operating in a cell-like network, we urge active reporting of damage cases."

Meanwhile, last year, the special judicial police unit deployed investigators and a luxury authentication specialist company (BPS) to intensively investigate the distribution and sale of counterfeit products, arresting 13 distributors and sellers handling about 2,000 counterfeit items worth approximately 1.4 billion KRW.

The province plans to strengthen trademark law investigative capabilities through collaboration with luxury authentication specialists and the Patent Office’s Trademark Special Judicial Police Unit, and will expand joint investigations with the Korea Customs Service and Seoul Metropolitan Government in the future.