"Not 'Lon-Bae-Mu' but 'New-Bae-Mu'?" Copycat bakery appears in Shanghai

[Financial News] A store imitating the famous Korean bakery "London Bagel Museum" has opened in front of the former building of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, China, sparking controversy.
Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, wrote on social media on the 27th, "Recently, Chinese brands such as MUMUSO and Only Young have copied Korean companies, which has caused major controversy," adding, "As a result, many netizens who visited China informed me that a shop called 'New York Bagelers Museum,' which imitates a famous Korean bakery brand, is openly doing business in downtown Shanghai."
He continued, "It is located directly across from the Provisional Government building, which has made many Korean tourists frown," and pointed out, "The overall interior atmosphere, menu, and packaging are so similar that anyone can see it is copying 'London Bagel Museum.'"
Professor Seo added, "After looking into it further, I found that they were operating stores not only in Shanghai but also in other cities such as Beijing and Suzhou," and criticized it as "a textbook trick to lure consumers by pretending to be a Korean-related brand, now that the value of Korean brands has risen worldwide."
Recently in China, a store named "Only Young" that imitates the leading Korean beauty select shop "Olive Young" has appeared, and the Chinese household-goods distributor "MUMUSO" has been found using the words "KOREA" or "KR" on its store signs, creating the false impression that it is a Korean company. These cases have already stirred public debate.
Professor Seo stressed, "There are limits to what the companies involved can do on their own," and said, "Cooperation at the government level to protect intellectual property rights, along with coordination with local law enforcement, now seems urgently needed."
bng@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Hee-sun Reporter