KIPO "Seomun Market Crackdown Seizes Over 290 Counterfeit Luxury Items"

The Trademark Special Judicial Police of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (hereinafter referred to as the Trademark Police) announced on the 18th that they conducted a crackdown on counterfeit goods in the Daegu Seomun Market area on the 2nd and 3rd of this month, apprehending two individuals including Mr. A (49), who distributed counterfeit bags and clothing, and booked them without detention on charges of violating the Trademark Act.

During the crackdown, approximately 290 counterfeit items imitating overseas famous brands, including bags and clothing that Mr. A and others were selling and storing on-site, were seized.

The majority of the seized counterfeit goods were products illegally using luxury brand trademarks such as those of L company, C company, and H company, with an estimated genuine market value of 1.3 billion KRW. By category, bags accounted for the largest portion with 136 items (46.9%), followed by clothing with 100 items (34.5%), scarves with 5 items (1.7%), and hats with 4 items (1.4%).

Prior to this month's crackdown, the Trademark Police also conducted a comprehensive crackdown on counterfeit goods at Seomun Market on October 10-11. At that time, four vendors were apprehended and booked. Additionally, over 1,100 counterfeit items with an estimated genuine market value of 2.1 billion KRW were seized.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office plans to continue and strengthen its crackdown activities targeting famous traditional markets nationwide, including Daegu Seomun Market and Busan Gukje Market.

Park Ju-yeon, head of the Trademark Special Judicial Police at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, stated, “Distributing counterfeit goods in famous traditional markets frequented by foreign tourists damages the national image internationally and can weaken the competitiveness of domestic companies when they expand overseas. The Korean Intellectual Property Office will persistently continue crackdown activities to eradicate the distribution of counterfeit goods in habitual counterfeit distribution areas such as large markets.”