▲ The entrance of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Tuesday it will conduct expanded safety inspections on cosmetics purchased directly from overseas online platforms amid growing concerns over counterfeit K-beauty products.

 

The ministry said it will carry out the inspections in cooperation with the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Customs Service.

 

The ministry has conducted safety inspections on overseas direct-purchase cosmetics since 2024. It inspected 1,080 cases last year and plans to expand the number to 1,200 this year.

 

Suspected counterfeit cosmetics will be included in this year’s inspection targets in an effort to protect the intellectual property rights of K-beauty brands and prevent damage to companies and consumers caused by fake products.

 

The ministry said potentially harmful cosmetics identified through the joint public-private inspections will be barred from entering and being sold in the country. It also plans to request the blocking of related sales websites through the Korea Communications Standards Commission.

 

Inspection results will be disclosed on the ministry’s website.

 

The ministry added it will support affected companies through the government’s “K-Brand Dispute Response Strategy Program,” which provides assistance for overseas administrative and criminal enforcement actions, as well as civil and criminal lawsuits against foreign sellers.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]