The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), led by Commissioner Oh Yu-gyeong, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), led by Commissioner Kim Yong-seon, have identified and reported a broker involved in the illegal import and distribution of counterfeit cosmetics, health supplements, and water filters manufactured in China.
This operation came to light following intelligence received by special investigators from both ministries regarding the distribution of products that appeared genuine but exhibited discrepancies in packaging materials and certification marks on online open markets such as Coupang and Naver.
Investigators uncovered that the broker, identified as A, colluded with manufacturers in Shenzhen, China to sell 61 types of counterfeit items, including cosmetics and health supplements, valued at 4.5 billion KRW in South Korea from October 2024 to November 2025. Additionally, A was found to be storing 87 types of illegal products worth approximately 1.3 billion KRW in a logistics warehouse.
The MFDS and KIPO confirmed the counterfeit products through a comparison with genuine items, identifying differences in material, print content, shape, size, and formulation color, leading to the seizure of these products.
It was revealed that A maintained a logistics hub in Cheongju, South Korea, receiving counterfeit products sent via international express mail from the Chinese manufacturers. A facilitated the distribution of around 83,000 counterfeit items valued at approximately 4.5 billion KRW to customers nationwide using these online platforms.
Furthermore, A actively participated in the sale of counterfeit Brita filters, altering the original 'Made in China' label to 'Made in Germany.'
This investigation led to the identification of various counterfeit brands, including popular domestic brands and international names such as Estée Lauder and SK-II, resulting in a total of 97,000 counterfeit items with a market value of around 5.4 billion KRW. The brands affected included 'Celladix,' 'Gahi,' and 'Joseon Beauty,' among others.
The MFDS emphasized the dangerous implications of these counterfeit products, as preliminary testing revealed zero detection of functional ingredients and active compounds in several functional cosmetics and health supplements seized. This suggests that consumers would not receive the expected safety and functional assurance from these products.
The MFDS and KIPO have urged consumers to utilize official sales channels certified by brands or manufacturers when purchasing well-known products online. They recommend contacting customer service of genuine manufacturers or sellers when there are suspicions of counterfeit products.
Looking ahead, both ministries plan to enhance their collaborative investigative efforts to combat the distribution of counterfeit products, which threaten public health and safety, particularly against the backdrop of the rising popularity of the K-beauty and health industries.
