Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean government is stepping up efforts to protect consumers, particularly children, from unsafe products purchased overseas. In a move aimed at addressing the growing popularity of overseas direct purchases (ODP), the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy has unveiled a comprehensive plan to strengthen safety regulations for children's products imported from abroad.
The newly announced "Fourth Basic Plan for Children's Product Safety Management (2025-2027)" outlines a four-pronged strategy to enhance product safety and establish a more secure environment for children. Key initiatives include:
Strengthened safety standards: The government will revise safety standards for products commonly used by both children and adults, such as flooring materials, and introduce new warning labels.
Enhanced enforcement against unsafe products: Authorities will intensify monitoring of online marketplaces and take stricter measures against sellers of non-compliant products, including removing product listings and requesting customs officials to block imports.
Improved safety testing and certification: A new research center will be established to expedite safety assessments for emerging technologies and products. Additionally, the government will streamline the certification process for businesses.
Increased penalties for violations: Fines for companies that violate children's product safety regulations will be aligned with those imposed on manufacturers of electrical products.
"The goal of this plan is to create a safer environment for children while also reducing the regulatory burden on businesses," said an official from the National Metrology Institute of Korea. "By strengthening our safety management system and working closely with international partners, we aim to ensure that all children's products sold in South Korea meet the highest safety standards."
The government's initiative comes in response to a growing number of reports of unsafe children's products being sold online. By implementing these new measures, South Korea hopes to protect consumers from potential harm and build trust in the safety of products available on the market.
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