Product recalls up 5 pc in S. Korea on hazardous imported goods sold online
Seoul, Aug 10
The number of products recalled in South Korea due to safety issues increased around 5 per cent in 2025 from a year earlier, data showed on Monday, amid an increase in hazardous imported goods sold on online marketplaces.
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said 2,656 recall cases were reported last year, compared with 2,537 in 2024, mostly because products violated the Framework Act on Consumers, reports Yonhap news agency.
The watchdog said the number of recall cases involving violations of the consumer act came to 851, rising around 42 percent from a year earlier, amid an increase in products that had already been recalled overseas being sold on domestic online marketplaces.
A recall refers to corrective actions taken by businesses, either voluntarily or in compliance with government recommendations or orders, to address product defects that pose or could pose harm to consumers.
"Considering the increase in hazardous imported goods sold locally amid a rise in direct purchases by consumers, (the FTC) is enhancing surveillance in cooperation with relevant agencies," the watchdog said.
"The government is promptly suspending sales of hazardous products subject to recalls overseas or those found to pose safety risks through safety tests by requesting online marketplace operators to block their sales," it added.
By category, recalls of industrial consumer goods totalled 1,282 cases in 2025, up 8.6 percent from the previous year.
Recalls of pharmaceutical products, including herbal medicines, fell 13.5 percent to 295 cases, while medical device recalls rose 8.5 percent to 308 cases.
Meanwhile, South Korea's fair trade watchdog vowed to impose fines on conglomerate heads when their business groups omit affiliates from regulatory filings to avoid antitrust rules.
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) unveiled the plan in a report submitted for a policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung earlier in the day, along with other policy initiatives, including measures to tackle price rigging.
Under the plan, heads of business groups could face fines of up to 10 percent of the larger of the combined assets or average annual sales of the omitted affiliates.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting to see the increase in recalls tied to imported goods sold online. In the US we face similar challenges with marketplace sellers. It's good that South Korea is being proactive about blocking hazardous products. Hope other countries learn from this approach.
The rise in direct purchases by consumers is a huge factor here. We Indians also love buying from overseas websites, especially during sale seasons. But we rarely think about safety certifications. The FTC's move to block sales of recalled products on online marketplaces is something our Bureau of Indian Standards should seriously consider implementing here. 🤔
It's concerning that products already recalled overseas are still being sold on online marketplaces. This points to gaps in the supply chain and e-commerce platforms' responsibility. The 42% increase in consumer act violations is alarming. South Korea's response seems measured and effective.
One thing I appreciate about this report is the transparency. We don't get such detailed public data in India about recalls. Our legal metrology and consumer affairs departments should publish annual reports like this. It builds consumer trust and forces companies to be more responsible. Also, fining conglomerate heads for hiding affiliates is a bold move—we need similar accountability for big business groups in India!
The pharmaceutical and medical device recall stats are worth noting. A 13.5% drop in pharma recalls and 8.5% rise in medical device recalls. We need to ensure that imported medical devices, especially those bought online, are thoroughly vetted. Patient safety should never be compromised for convenience or cost.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.