Carcinogenic substances exceeding safety standards have been detected in imported counterfeit accessories and Labubu dolls.
The Korea Customs Service announced on November 5 that it had conducted a special crackdown on imported intellectual property-infringing goods (commonly known as counterfeits) in the first half of this year, seizing a total of 606,443 items. Component analysis of 250 counterfeit products, including accessories that come into direct contact with the skin, revealed that carcinogens such as lead, cadmium, and plasticizers were found at levels exceeding safety standards.
The component analysis was carried out by the Central Customs Analysis Laboratory of the Korea Customs Service in preparation for a surge in counterfeit imports ahead of major overseas discount events such as China's Singles' Day (November 11) and the United States' Black Friday (November 28). The analysis also included products sold via live commerce on social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube.
As a result, some counterfeit metal accessories such as earrings, necklaces, and hairpins were found to contain up to 5,527 times the permitted levels of lead and cadmium.
In particular, considering that many young consumers purchase accessories through live commerce, 42 counterfeit items sold through these channels were purchased and analyzed. Of these, 24 items (57.1%) were found to contain lead and cadmium exceeding safety standards.
Among these, lead was detected at levels up to 41.64% (4,627 times the standard), and cadmium up to 12.0% (120 times the standard). The Korea Customs Service emphasized that this suggests lead and cadmium were not merely used for surface treatment of the accessories, but were likely used as main components in the manufacturing process.
Carcinogenic substances were also detected in Labubu keyring products, which have recently gained popularity. When five such products sold in the market were purchased and analyzed, two were found to contain the plasticizer DEHP at levels 344 times the domestic safety standard.
The lead, cadmium, and plasticizers detected in large quantities during the component analysis are hazardous (carcinogenic) substances designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure to lead and cadmium can cause diseases affecting the renal, digestive, and reproductive systems. Plasticizers can cause reproductive impairment and endocrine disruption when ingested.
Lee Myunggu, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, stated, "Recently, there has been an increase in cases where young people purchase counterfeits to emulate celebrities. However, consuming counterfeit products not only infringes on intellectual property rights but also poses a serious threat to public health."
He added, "The Korea Customs Service will continue to select and analyze the safety of various imported goods that threaten public safety, and will do its utmost to block the entry of illegal and hazardous goods through cooperation with relevant agencies."
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