Deep Discounts, Deeper Deception: 16 Overseas Online Retail Brands Exposed for Selling Counterfeit Goods
Overseas Online Retailers Lure Customers with Up to 95% Discounts… But Sell Only Counterfeit Goods
A large-scale investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Government into famous brand products sold on overseas online platforms has revealed rampant exaggerated advertising and the sale of counterfeit goods. Notably, while enticing consumers with advertisements boasting discounts of up to 95%, not a single genuine product was found, raising concerns among consumers. This investigation comes amid growing concerns about the distribution of counterfeit goods alongside the rapid growth of the overseas direct purchase market. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has proactively stepped in to prevent consumer harm and establish a sound market order. The city plans to continuously monitor the distribution of counterfeit goods through overseas online platforms and intensify efforts to minimize consumer damage. The results of this investigation highlight the dark side of the overseas direct purchase market. Consumers need to meticulously verify not only the price of products but also the credibility of sellers and the authenticity of the products themselves.
All 16 Products Sold on Overseas Online Platforms Judged to be Counterfeit
On October 31, 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that quality inspections of 16 products from 12 brands sold on overseas online platforms shockingly revealed all products to be counterfeit. This devastatingly shattered the expectations of consumers hoping to purchase products at low prices through overseas direct purchases and exposed serious problems with the product management systems of overseas online platforms. Based on these findings, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has strongly requested that the platforms halt the sale of counterfeit goods and urged consumers to exercise extreme caution when making overseas direct purchases. The city emphasized that products sold at excessively discounted prices or from sellers of unknown origin are highly likely to be counterfeit and that consumers should carefully verify the authenticity of products before purchasing. This incident, which could significantly undermine the credibility of the entire overseas direct purchase market, is expected to have far-reaching consequences. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to strengthen its continuous monitoring and crackdowns to eradicate the distribution of such counterfeit goods.
Lee Jae-myung Presides Over Cabinet Meeting Approving Amendments to Commercial Law… Jang Dong-hyeok Expresses Concerns About Special Prosecutor Investigation to Speaker Woo Won-sik
Meanwhile, in the political arena, on September 2, 2025, the South Korean Cabinet, presided over by President Lee Jae-myung, approved the second set of amendments to the Commercial Law and the Yellow Envelope Act. These are expected to bring significant changes to the corporate management environment and labor relations, eliciting mixed reactions from business and labor groups. On the same day, Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, met with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik to convey concerns about the recently controversial special prosecutor investigation. Representative Jang emphasized the need for transparency in the scope and methods of the special prosecutor's investigation, arguing that it should be approached cautiously to avoid compromising political neutrality. Amid sharp conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties, attention is focused on what role Speaker Woo will play. With major political issues piling up, there is a growing call for policies to stabilize the people's livelihood and improve their lives. In particular, proactive efforts by the government are becoming increasingly important to prevent consumer harm, such as the issue of counterfeit goods in the overseas direct purchase market, and to establish a sound market order.
Multifaceted Efforts Needed to Prevent Consumer Harm… National Intelligence Service Predicts Kim Jong-un's Visit to China
On September 2, 2025, the Democratic Party of Korea and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety agreed to establish separate criteria to exclude high-net-worth individuals from the recipients of the second round of livelihood recovery consumption coupons. This is interpreted as a measure to maximize the effect of stimulating consumption and contribute to resolving income inequality. However, some are raising questions about the objectivity and fairness of setting standards for high-net-worth individuals, which is expected to spark controversy. Also, on the same day, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) predicted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would attend a Chinese military parade and stand alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The NIS stated that Kim Jong-un departed Pyongyang by special train on September 1 and crossed the border in the early hours of September 2. This suggests that relations between North Korea and China are becoming stronger, raising concerns about the impact on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Amid these mixed domestic and international issues, the government must make every effort to stabilize the people's livelihood and address security concerns. In particular, proactive efforts by the government to prevent consumer harm, such as the issue of counterfeit goods in the overseas direct purchase market, and to establish a sound market order are needed, and greater caution is required from consumers themselves.
