KAHI, a prominent beauty brand, has launched a comprehensive response to the distribution of counterfeit cosmetics, notably from China. The brand has strengthened its guidelines for verifying authenticity and is engaging in legal actions against counterfeit sellers both domestically and internationally.
Recent findings from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety revealed instances of counterfeit products, including KAHI's flagship item, the ‘Multi Balm.’ Unlike prior counterfeit products that were sold at lower prices, recent forgeries closely mimic the design and trademarks of genuine products and are priced similarly. This makes it particularly challenging for consumers to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit items based solely on appearance.
To mitigate consumer risks, KAHI has published a notice on its official website alerting consumers to potential forgeries and urging them to confirm authenticity by checking the designated ‘authentication QR code’ before purchase. This QR code, affixed to the top of the Multi Balm package, allows consumers to easily verify authenticity by scanning with a smartphone.
In addition to combating counterfeit products entering the domestic market, KAHI is also taking decisive action against forgeries sold on global e-commerce platforms such as Walmart, eBay, and Temu. In October 2022, the brand initiated legal proceedings against over 40 sellers of counterfeit KAHI products on Walmart and eBay, successfully freezing the accounts of 37 sellers involved. A favorable ruling in that case mandated damages, and KAHI is currently in the process of recovering those funds. Furthermore, in March of this year, the brand filed additional lawsuits against 12 more counterfeit sellers, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to combatting counterfeit distribution.
A representative from KAHI stated, “Counterfeit cosmetics not only infringe upon the brand's intellectual property rights but also pose serious threats to consumer health and safety due to unverified ingredients. The circulation of counterfeit products abroad can undermine global consumer trust in K-Beauty as a whole. We remain dedicated to rigorous domestic and international monitoring and legal actions to prevent consumer harm.”
