Company: "We Do Not Think Consumers Are Lying"
A controversy has arisen after a long needle was found in a new garment from a famous brand.
According to Yonhap News on the 7th, Mr. A, who works at a company in Japan, returned to Korea on vacation on the 14th of last month and purchased a top from company B, popular among young people, online. On the 24th of last month, he wore the garment from company B and felt a prickling sensation on his left shoulder. When he turned the garment inside out, he was shocked to find a sharp needle over 3cm long stuck in the seam on the inside fabric of the shoulder.
The thread threaded through the needle was the same as the fabric, and it is presumed that it was accidentally left stuck in the clothing during the finishing process. The needle was reportedly stuck in the seam on the inside of the left shoulder fabric. [Photo by Yonhap News]
He then raised the issue through company B’s customer service. During a phone call with the customer, company B acknowledged their fault, suggesting that since the thread attached to the needle matched the garment’s fabric, it was likely that proper inspection was not conducted during production or distribution. Company B offered Mr. A a refund and a 10% discount coupon. When Mr. A declined, they proposed compensation of 100,000 KRW.
Mr. A criticized company B’s handling of the matter as careless and their consumer response as merely formal, stating that this was a serious incident caused by negligence in product management by a famous clothing company that could have caused significant harm to consumers. He refused to accept the compensation and informed the company of his intention to publicize the issue through the media.
As media coverage began, company B appeared to try to avoid responsibility and changed their stance. They stated, “Following an internal investigation, the needle was confirmed to be different from those used in the production process, and it is understood that it was not introduced during manufacturing.”
They added, “The production site manages a needle register and inspects products, including needle detection, before folding and packaging them, so it is difficult to determine how the needle entered the product, requiring further investigation. However, considering the inconvenience experienced by the customer who used our product, we immediately apologized and issued a refund, and promised to strengthen inspections in the future.” This contradicts their initial statement to Mr. A. Nevertheless, company B stated that they do not believe Mr. A is lying.
Mr. A told Yonhap News, “This incident is not a simple product defect but a safety issue that could be directly linked to consumers’ lives. Other consumers could be exposed to the same danger, and I believe there are serious problems in company B’s product inspection process.”
He added, “Company B’s customer response seems to not understand the seriousness of the issue and gives the impression of trying to cover up the problem rather than providing a real solution. This matter should not end as a personal issue but should raise awareness so that other consumers are not exposed to the same risk, and media attention is necessary.”
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