공지사항
Subject |
Media Report Summary |
Name |
Admin |
Date |
2023.12.12 |
File |
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BPS is informing you the press release concerning the raid action by SJP of Seoul Metropolitan Government. Please refer to the below:
1. Reporting Date
Dec, 7, 2023
2. Reporting Media
https://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20231207_0002549244&cID=10201&pID=10200
3. Reporting Contents
This
year, 137 vendors selling counterfeit products, as known as 'knockoffs,'
imitating famous brands were caught in the areas of Dongdaemun, Namdaemun
market, and Myeongdong in Seoul.
In order
to evade inspection, they have established secret stores and sold knockoff
products, or they sold them online by deceiving them in the form of an overseas
purchase agency.
The SJP
of Seoul Metropolitan revealed on the 7th that they had criminally
charged 137 illegal sellers of counterfeits involved in trademark infringement
through the comprehensive raid actions this year, an increase of about 17
individuals compared to the 120 caught last year.
The
seizure items from the illegal seller amounted to approximately 61 billion won
when estimated at genuine prices, totaling 7,731 pieces.
The
breakdown by category includes 2,674 accessories (worth 1.69 billion won),
2,603 clothing items (worth 1.63 billion won), 500 bags (worth 1.49 billion
won), 1,041 wallets (worth 870 million won), and 913 other miscellaneous items such
as belts and scarves (worth 440 million won).
The city
conducted trademark infringement investigations based on various citizen
reports and the field information activities. In Dongdaemun's Saebit Market
(street stalls), the largest hub for counterfeit goods transactions in Korea,
the police launched intensive nighttime raid actions, resulting in the
investigation of 500 cases and the confiscation of 2,103 counterfeit pieces
with a genuine market value of 16 billion won.
In order
to avoid inspections, sellers in Saebit Market concentrated on selling
counterfeit products during late-night hours or weekends. Some vendors even
used the tactic of prominently displaying genuine products at the front while
hiding knockoffs in the back for sale.
In the
Namdaemun Market area, 32 sellers of counterfeit accessories were apprehended,
and 2,674 items with a genuine market value of over 1.7 billion won were
confiscated.
Hazardous
substances such as Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), exceeding the standard levels by
2 to 4 times, were detected in the metal accessories, such as necklaces and
earrings.
In the
Jongno area, known for its concentration of metal accessory shops, five
individuals, including Mr. B, were caught selling 14k accessories produced by
counterfeiting luxury trademarks at higher prices than regular items. The
police seized 94 items with a genuine market value of 1.1 billion won.
In the
Myeongdong area, three individuals were charged for enticing only foreigners,
leading them to secluded locations within stores, and selling 183 counterfeit
items, such as bags and clothing, disguised as luxury goods. The seized
counterfeit items were 589 pieces and amounted to a genuine market value of
1.02 billion won.
Six
individuals were caught engaging in the sale of counterfeit products purchased
from Dongdaemun Saebit Market and Chinese online websites, registered on
domestic websites, and sold by deceiving them in the form of an overseas
purchase agency. Some sellers continuously changed their business information in
order to evade raid actions and re-registered on shopping malls.
The
production, sale, and storage of counterfeit goods result in significant damage
to others' property and credit, constituting a criminal offense under Article
230 of the Trademark Law, punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years or a
fine of up to 100 million won.
The Seoul
Metropolitan Government urged the public to actively report counterfeit product
sellers. Those providing crucial evidence along with their reports are eligible
to receive rewards of up to 200 million won under the “Seoul Special
Metropolitan City Public Interest Reporting Protection and Support Ordinance.”
Seo
Young-kwan, the head of the SJP of Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, “We
will strengthen our raid actions further to enhance Seoul’s image and establish
a healthy trading order. We encourage genuine purchases and ask the public to
actively report the discovery of counterfeit products.”
Thanks for the review.
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