"Throw Away Fake Labubu Keyrings Immediately"... Carcinogens Found at 344 Times the Safety Limit

[Financial News] Over 600,000 counterfeit items infringing on intellectual property rights were seized by customs authorities in the first half of this year.

On the 5th, the Korea Customs Service announced that a total of 606,443 counterfeit goods infringing on intellectual property rights were detected during a special crackdown on such items imported into the country in the first half of this year.
An analysis of 250 products, including accessories that come into direct contact with the skin, revealed that 112 items contained carcinogens such as lead, cadmium, and plasticizers at levels exceeding safety standards. In some cases, lead and cadmium were found at up to 5,527 times the permissible limit.
The inspection also included products purchased directly through social media live commerce platforms such as Instagram and YouTube.
In particular, safety analyses of earrings, necklaces, and hairpins acquired via social media revealed lead concentrations as high as 41.64% (4,627 times the safety limit) and cadmium up to 12.0% (120 times the limit).
The Korea Customs Service explained that these substances were likely used as primary ingredients during manufacturing, not merely as surface treatments.
Among five popular Labubu keyrings recently purchased and analyzed, two were found to contain plasticizers at levels 344 times higher than the domestic safety standard.
Lead, cadmium, and plasticizers, which were detected in large quantities during this analysis, are classified as hazardous substances and possible human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Lead and cadmium poisoning can cause diseases of the renal, digestive, and reproductive systems, while plasticizer exposure may result in impaired fertility and endocrine disorders.

Meanwhile, the Korea Customs Service will conduct a special eight-week crackdown on illegal overseas direct purchases from the 10th until the end of the year, ahead of major international sales events such as China's Singles' Day and the U.S. Black Friday.
The operation will involve 34 customs offices nationwide, focusing on the smuggling of goods for resale that exploit the cross-border shopping system, misuse of personal customs clearance codes, and the importation of intellectual property-infringing products such as K-brand items.
Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Myung-gu stated, "Recently, there has been a rise in counterfeit purchases among young people seeking to emulate celebrities. However, consuming counterfeit products not only infringes on intellectual property rights but also poses a significant threat to public health." He emphasized, "With the volume of overseas direct purchases expected to reach 200 million this year, we will further strengthen crackdowns on those abusing the system."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter