A group involved in producing and distributing counterfeit branded clothing at prices lower than the official retail price has been apprehended by the police.
Police are cracking down on a counterfeit clothing manufacturing factory in Mangu-dong, Jungnang-gu, Seoul. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
On June 18, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Mobile Patrol Unit announced that they had detained and are currently investigating two men in their 50s on suspicion of violating the Trademark Act.
According to the police, over a period of about two years, these individuals operated and managed a counterfeit clothing manufacturing factory on the third floor of a building in Mangu-dong, Jungnang-gu, Seoul. They are accused of distributing counterfeit versions of branded clothing, which normally retail for 250,000 won, online for 200,000 won and offline for 50,000 won.
The suspects were referred to as "manager" and "deputy manager" at the factory. The police also plan to investigate the factory owner, who is currently hospitalized.
The case came to light last month when police, while conducting foot patrols in the Songpa-gu area of Seoul, discovered a counterfeit clothing retailer displaying a "closing sale" banner. During the investigation, it was also revealed that a factory in Jungnang-gu was supplying counterfeit clothing to the retailer.
The police seized 3,660 short-sleeved T-shirts (worth approximately 730 million won) and 15,167 labels produced at the factory, and have begun a preliminary investigation into 11 workers at the factory prior to formal charges.
A police official stated, "Consumers should be cautious, as extremely low prices under banners such as 'closing sale' may lead to fraud."
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