"Leaving Golf Clubs Behind and Blocking Strollers"... Moms' Cafe Furious Over 'Direct Pitch' Regulation

Restrictions on Direct Import of Some Items Without KC Certification Starting Next Month
Many Children's Products Including Toys, Strollers, and School Supplies

Strong Reactions Such as "Heungseon Daewongun, Dictatorship, Communism"
Possible Ban on Direct Import of Figures, Plastic Models, and PC Accessories

On the 16th, online communities such as mom cafes are abuzz over the government's decision to completely block overseas direct purchases of children's, electrical, and household chemical products that have not received KC certification. This is because many of the regulated items are necessities in daily life.

A Customs Service official is working at the Incheon Customs Express Logistics Center in Jung-gu, Incheon. Photo by Gonghang Photojournalists Group

The government announced measures the day before to strengthen consumer safety and enhance corporate competitiveness in response to the surge in overseas direct purchases. The main point is to implement a complete ban on overseas direct purchases starting next month to prevent the import of harmful or dangerous products and to strengthen safety management. This is interpreted as a response to recent side effects arising from increased use of various low-cost overseas platforms collectively called 'Altesh' (Ali, Temu, Shuin), which have threatened consumer safety.

The government will first prohibit overseas direct purchases of products without safety certification. The targets are products for children under 13 years old that require special management, as well as electrical and household items that pose risks of fire, electric shock, and other accidents. These products can only be purchased through overseas direct purchase if they have received KC certification. Household chemical products are also required to be reported and approved due to the increased risk of harmful substances.

The KC (Korea Certification) mark is a national integrated certification that unifies legally mandated certification systems across safety, health, environment, and quality sectors. It is a mark that must be displayed on specific products designated by law to protect the lives and property of citizens when distributed or sold. Previously, 13 legal certification marks were issued separately by five ministries?the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Environment, Korea Communications Commission, and National Emergency Management Agency?but since July 1, 2009, they have been unified under the single KC mark.

Starting next month, products that will no longer be available for overseas direct purchase include 34 children's products such as playground equipment, infant chairs, strollers, walkers, and school supplies; 34 electrical and household items such as wires and cables, thermos bottles, lighting fixtures, and electric heating mats; and 12 household chemical products such as humidifier chemicals and disinfectants for infectious disease prevention. Prohibited items can be checked through the Fair Trade Commission's 'Consumer 24' service.

Many consumers have expressed confusion and anger about this. One netizen lamented on a mom cafe, "I started buying directly after seeing the same product sold at three times the price on domestic shopping malls." Another mom cafe member criticized, "Imported products are not only made in China; what about those certified by the US or EU? Can't they be accepted without KC certification?" Some also questioned the reliability of KC certification by pointing out that even humidifier disinfectants in the past had KC certification.

Additionally, since items mainly used by adults such as golf clubs, fishing rods, perfumes, and alcohol are not included in this regulation, some have said, "Isn't this discriminating against young parents raising children?" Other strong reactions include comments like "Domestic prices will only go up," "It's annoying to ban direct purchases by law. Is this Heungseon Daewongun?" and "This is a communist-style law only seen in dictatorships." Mom cafe members are also confused as they ask and answer each other about whether the items they usually purchase directly are subject to regulation.

'Kidult' enthusiasts who enjoy figures, model kits, and games are also reacting strongly against the direct purchase ban. This is because many game and animation character figures, plastic assembly models, and PC components are classified as children's toys and electrical household items, respectively, increasing the likelihood of import restrictions.

On the PC hardware community 'Quasar Zone,' multiple posts have criticized the direct purchase regulation, saying things like "Parts that cost about 10,000 won on overseas platforms now cost 40,000 won domestically," and "They only regulate without changing the domestic distribution structure, which is the root cause of consumers seeking direct purchases." Figure enthusiasts are also worried that it will become difficult or expensive to obtain rare figures domestically in the future. On the other hand, some netizens have expressed opinions that "Considering that environmental hormones or carcinogens have been detected in direct purchase products, appropriate regulation is necessary."

Regarding this, a Customs Service official stated, "The specific scope of toys and electrical household items subject to the direct purchase ban will be determined by the National Institute of Technology and Standards and the Ministry of Environment," adding, "Detailed guidelines are expected to be released later."