[From the Scene] South Korea’s counterfeit market is very much alive (2024)

FAQs

Are counterfeits illegal in Korea? ›

In some European countries, counterfeit product buyers can also be punished with up to three years in prison or up to 300,000 euros ($336,800) in fines. However, in Korea there is no law to penalize those who buy counterfeit goods.

Counterfeiting has grown from a 30 billion USD trade problem in the 1980s to a market worth 600 billion USD in 2021, accounting for 2.1% of all trade worldwide. 80% of the world's counterfeits originate from China.

According to Google search, Korean fake handbags are the best in the world of counterfeit goods. If you are a fan of good quality counterfeit items then this is the place to be. Notice the wrinkled area on top of the bag or the opening? Definitely fake.

The Korea Customs Service also reported that more than 1,866 fake handbags smuggled into South Korea have been caught over the past four years, with the total value reaching 467.9 billion won (approx. 390 million USD). The handbag brand with the most fakes sold in the Korean market is Louis Vuitton.

Getting a condom is next to impossible because the country has banned all sorts of birth control measures. Sanitary pads and tampons are not available in the North Korean market. Women use the old-school reusable pads which they are expected to reuse by washing after use.

According to South Korean law, selling and importing counterfeit goods is illegal. It is also against the law to possess the goods for the purpose of duplicating and fabricating others' registered trademarks.

According to The Counterfeit Report, "China produces 80% of the world's counterfeits and we're supporting China.

China leads the world in counterfeit, pirated products -U.S. report | Reuters.

Footwear is #1

22% of all counterfeit goods seized are footwear. The most common brand victims are Nike, Adidas, Louboutin, and UGG. Have you ever heard of 'FUggs'? 2.5 million pairs of faux UGGs have been seized by US Customs since 2007.

In general, however, it is safe to say that Gucci products are typically cheaper in Korea than they are in other countries. This is due in part to the fact that Korea is a major market for Gucci and the company often offers special deals and discounts to entice customers.

Is jewelry from Korea real? ›

Just like in China, Korean gold is generally high quality, 24 karat gold. During Doljanchi or Dohl, where the family comes to celebrate a child's first birthday party, Koreans will bring gold jewelry as a gift – usually little 24 karat gold rings and bangle bracelets.

Check the label and packaging

Most Korean products use a combination of English and Hangul. Be wary of items which have grammar inconsistencies as well as low-quality packaging.

Gucci is an Italian brand, and every piece of their clothing must say “Made in Italy” on the tag. Fakes are often made in China or Korea, so check on its manufacturing origin.

In the U.S., it's illegal for a person to sell counterfeit merchandise. Both state and federal laws prohibit this type of conduct. If you knowingly sell or intend to sell a fake item, you could be sentenced to years in prison and/or be ordered to pay steep fines.

Many people don't know that buying counterfeit luxury items could pose serious health risks. These copycat manufacturers do not undergo the same rigorous testing that legitimate manufacturers follow to ensure that all items produced are safe for human use.

According to a survey on the sex life in China released in 2019, a majority of the young Chinese adults used condoms during sex. In that survey, almost half of the respondents said they preferred extra thin condoms. The survey also revealed that Chinese men usually took the responsibility of condom purchase.

Prevalence. The prevalence of condom use varies greatly between countries. Most surveys of contraceptive use are among married women, or women in informal unions. Japan has the highest rate of condom usage in the world: in that country, condoms account for almost 80% of contraceptive use by married women.

“Adultery” is a criminal offence (actually it's not anymore, we'll get to it later) while “act of unchastity” is a ground for divorce in Korea. “Act of unchastity” is a broader concept than adultery.

Clothing etiquette

While short-shorts and skirts are commonplace for women in Korea's major cities, exposed shoulders and low-cut tops are still considered taboo most places. Summers get hot in South Korea, so loose-fitting t-shirts are a good alternative to tank tops.

This study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and according to it, the gene is the only determinant of whether your underarm smell or not. What's interesting is that almost all Koreans lack the ABCC11 gene. In other words, they are “genetically mutated” to have stink-free pits.

Is makeup illegal in South Korea? ›

Pursuant to “Cosmetic Act”, cosmetics in South Korea are divided into two categories: general cosmetics and functional cosmetics. General cosmetics are permitted to be manufactured/imported without registration but are subject to post-market supervision.

According to the United States Department of Treasury, an estimated $70 million in counterfeit bills are in circulation, or approximately 1 note in counterfeits for every 10,000 in genuine currency, with an upper bound of $200 million counterfeit, or 1 counterfeit per 4,000 genuine notes.

The $20 bill is the most commonly counterfeited banknote in the U.S., while overseas counterfeiters are more likely to make fake $100 bills. The real $100 bills are more prevalent overseas as well, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Louis Vuitton Bags

Louis Vuitton, the French fashion brand, is another one of the most commonly counterfeited brands out there, according to Love Money.

U.S. money is protected from counterfeiting its quality of paper, the existence of blue and red fibers that can be plucked from the bill, and the difficulty in reproducing seals and portraits. Other countries currency is also protected by such safety checks.

According to a report generated by OECD and cited by Statista, China and Hong Kong combined are by far the largest producers of counterfeit products in the world, accounting for 75 per cent of the total counterfeiting provenances.

Apple AirPods. Apple is the most counterfeited tech brand in the world, and, much like with fake medications, bogus Apple goods are potentially fatal.

It is illegal to purchase counterfeit goods. Bringing them into the United States may result in civil or criminal penalties and purchasing counterfeit goods often supports criminal activities, such as forced labor or human trafficking. Help to stop the funding of criminal enterprises by buying authentic goods.

Those fears are mostly unfounded--unless, it seems, you're a maker of footwear. That's right: Shoes are the most counterfeited products in the world. Nike, in fact, is the most knocked-off brand, according to a new report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The most common fake luxury watches

For watch brands, Rolex is easily the most faked manufacturer out there. You can find a cheap Submariner replica in just about every market from London to Bangkok and everywhere in between. Rolex Submariner, one of THE most copied watches.

Why do Koreans love luxury? ›

"They think it's an investment in themselves. They are willing to pay money if the product brings them satisfaction and joy. They think it's worth it," Kwak said. Displaying wealth is also acceptable, and sometimes encouraged in Korean society.

The average cost of living in South Korea is reasonable. It is not as cheap as living in some Asian countries like Laos or China, but it is also not as expensive as Japan or Singapore. In general, the most expensive living costs in the country will be found in the capital, Seoul.

Korean consumers are found to have paid more for Chanel handbags and other merchandise than consumers in other Asian countries, according to the French luxury brand's website Tuesday. Chanel's most popular item Classic Flap Bag's medium size cost $9,825 in Korea, as of Tuesday.

Kim Kardashian, who can afford all the luxuries that she wants, prefers to wear borrowed or fake jewelry. The 41-year-old star and businesswoman dislikes owning valuable jewelry and rejects even those that are sent to him as a gift the most recognized jewelers in the world, she has a reason for it.

Both the government of North Korea and the government of South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) claim to be the sole legitimate government of the whole of Korea.

Korean products are significantly cheaper than their western counterparts because manufacturing costs are lower in Korea. There is also stiff competition between companies to offer the “best for less”. Beauty-obsessed Koreans are always on the lookout for the next “Big Thing” in skincare.

Korean beauty products utilize the most effective Western ingredients—and so much more. With an impressively large repertoire that includes ground-breaking ingredients such as snail mucin and bee venom, their compellingly fresh formulations can deliver results you could never achieve before.

Majority of the ingredients used in Korean skincare are safe, even the most exotic ingredient such as snail slime are typically safe. Though most Korean skincare brands are cruelty free, and some brands are even vegan friendly by opting for natural traditional ingredients to be used in their products.

This is due to the lower cost of living in South Korea and the fact that Gucci products are produced in South Korea. Gucci products are also available at a discount in South Korea when compared to other countries. Duty-free shops in Seoul are about 10% to 20% cheaper than those in other cities.

Shopping designer bags like Chanel, Louis Vuitton or Hermes at Airports are usually the cheapest. It's far better than shopping at the retail stores in the cities.

How do you know if Gucci is real or fake? ›

Experts in luxury brands know a very simple trick that tells them how to tell if a Gucci bag is original. They simply check if the closures, zippers and rings of the bag bear the letters of the brand, if so, it means that it is an original bag.

Penalties for Counterfeit Merchandise

Under federal law, any individual who knowingly distributes, wholesales, or sells counterfeit merchandise faces substantial penalties: Imprisonment for the first offense up to 10 years and up to 20 years for repeat offenders.

She estimates that about 75% to 80% of the bags she sees are indeed fake. While Houston says there are a multitude of factors that need to be explored when determining whether or not a handbag is genuine, she offered these tips for those wondering if their designer find is the real thing: 1. Check the hardware.

Replica purse imports violate intellectual property rights. These products can be seized by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Importing and trafficking counterfeit goods is illegal under 18 United States Code, Sec 2320.

The toxic chemical

Dimethylformamide (DMFa) is a commonly used solvent in the production of plastics, rubber, and polyurethane (PU) coating, also known as synthetic leather. The chemical has a strong smell in the finished product and is also used for producing synthetic fibres.

Members of the rap community have dabbled in the faux jewelry or designer clothing game throughout hip-hop history, but rarely do we see them get called out in grave detail.

AAA Handbags website replicas possesses the exact features just like the original. However, some unique features, such as branding, design, look different. Decent replicas have similar features which are very close to the original with a variation which reveals the individual differences to the original.

South Korea Import Restrictions

The following items are restricted in South Korea and must be declared at customs: Firearms: including replicas and toys. Precious metals: gold jewelry used daily is not included. Narcotics: illegal drugs including marijuana or cannabis, cocaine, opium etc.

South Korea is one of the few countries that explicitly prohibits any form of p*rnography. p*rnographic websites, books, writings, films, magazines, photographs or other materials of a p*rnographic nature are illegal in South Korea.

Illegal drugs such as opium, marijuana/cannabis, cocaine, etc. * Including but not limited to: medicines, handbags, wallets, stoles, taxidermy and ivory from animals such as elephants, leopards, and alligators. Cashier's checks, overdraft checks, postal money orders, etc.

What clothes are not allowed in South Korea? ›

Clothing etiquette

While short-shorts and skirts are commonplace for women in Korea's major cities, exposed shoulders and low-cut tops are still considered taboo most places. Summers get hot in South Korea, so loose-fitting t-shirts are a good alternative to tank tops.

Apart from cuba, Coca-Cola is also not sold in North Korea. The Korean war took place between 1950 and 1953, because of which the united states imposed economic sanctions on North Korea. In 1980, north korea bombed South Korea, since then America has made strict laws. So, Coca-Cola is not sold in North Korea.

A Centuries-Old Stigma

In South Korea, tattoos, also called munshin, have long had negative associations. During the Koryo dynasty, which ruled from 918 to 1392 A.D., people were forcibly given tattoos on their faces or arms listing the crimes they had committed or marking them as slaves.

The problem here with iPhones is that Apple doesn't offer subsidies for iPhones in Korea. Thus, prices of iPhones are relatively higher than Samsung or LG phones as they can add on manufacturer subsidies in addition to the network provider subsidies, and thus iPhones are generally more expensive than the other phones.

South Korea enforced strict smoking bans in public places since July 2013, with fines of ₩100,000 won on any spotted smoker and up to ₩5 million won on shop owners not following the law.

Kissing in public is looked down upon and seen as highly immodest among older individuals in South Korea. This has become less taboo with the current generation of young adults, but is still widely discouraged by elders. Dressing well is important in South Korea; it is considered a sign of respect.

The average age of first-time marriage was 31.1 years for women and 33.4 years for men, as of 2021. Compared to the average age of first-time marriage in 1991, 30 years ago -- 24.8 for women and 27.9 for men – women and men now wait 6.3 years and 5.5 years, respectively.

You don't want to wear a leggings on the streets in Korea unless you wanna be on the spot. If you happen to wear a leggings at work or school, everyone will probably stare at you bluntly and might think your outfit is inappropriate.

In South Korea, it is most common to simply have a fitted sheet over your mattress. I have rarely seen full sets of sheets that are common in the States. You quickly get used to sleeping directly under your comforter but don't go shopping a wonder why you can't find anything but fitted sheets.

In fact, people in Korea very often wear slippers inside their homes, or simply stay barefoot or with socks. If you happen to be invited to a Korean home, remember to wear a pair of socks, as being without one may seem inappropriate to some.

Why can't you wear jeans in Korea? ›

In North Korea, blue jeans are seen as a symbol of American imperialism and are thus forbidden. The same is true for other Western clothing items such as T-shirts, skirts, and suits. Instead, citizens are required to wear traditional Korean clothing such as hanboks.