Special Judicial Police Raid Dongdaemun Basement, Leaving Investigators Stunned... What Was Hidden Inside?

[Financial News] More than 7,000 counterfeit luxury goods, with an estimated genuine-product value of 8.9 billion won, were seized from an underground warehouse in Jangan-dong, Dongdaemun District, Seoul. It was the largest haul since the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s special judicial police began investigating counterfeit goods.
On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Special Judicial Police Bureau for Citizens' Livelihood said it had seized 7,369 counterfeit luxury goods from an underground warehouse in Jangan-dong. It also said it planned to book a man in his 50s, identified as Mr. A, on suspicion of violating the Trademark Act before referring the case to prosecutors.
The estimated value of the genuine products represented by the seized counterfeits was 8.89 billion won. The haul included 1,004 bags, 3,187 wallets, 752 pairs of sunglasses and 669 bottles of perfume, along with many high-quality counterfeit goods known as so-called “mirror-grade” products.
The investigation found that Mr. A had stored thousands of counterfeit goods in a large warehouse and attempted to sell them nationwide through online live broadcasts, including on YouTube, using separate sales agents known as “sellers.” He was also found to have a history of being punished several times for violating the Trademark Act.
Even after referring the case to prosecutors, Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to analyze digital data, including mobile phones, and transaction records to trace how the counterfeit goods were obtained and identify additional suppliers. It will also step up investigations into corporate-style counterfeit-goods distribution networks that combine large warehouses with online sales channels.
Under the Trademark Act, anyone who infringes trademark rights may face up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won.
Lee Chang-seok, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Special Judicial Police Bureau for Citizens' Livelihood, said, "Counterfeit-goods crimes are becoming increasingly organized and spreading across regions, moving beyond simple sales to methods that use large warehouses and online distribution networks." He added, "We will closely track the entire distribution process, including supply, storage and sales, and do our utmost to eradicate counterfeit-goods crimes."

[email protected] Seong Cho-rong Reporter