Prosecutors Conduct Joint Inspections with MFDS and MOTIE on Mask Distribution Stages... Propose Solutions for Identified Issues

Filter 6.3 Tons and 2 Million Masks Seized, About 5.25 Million Public Masks Distributed

Masks and fabric necessary for mask production found in the warehouse of a company caught during a joint inspection by the prosecution and related ministries (Photo by Prosecution)

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution, together with related ministries such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, conducted a joint inspection at each distribution stage of masks to identify the causes of supply imbalances in masks and the filters necessary for mask production, and proposed measures to improve the issues.

In particular, during this joint inspection carried out under the direction of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, the prosecution distributed about 6.3 tons of melt-blown nonwoven fabric (MB filter, enough to produce approximately 3.25 million KF94 masks), which had been stored in warehouses without reporting but voluntarily reported to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to nine mask manufacturers. They also circulated about 2 million masks seized from warehouses, enabling a total of approximately 5.25 million public masks to be distributed.

According to the prosecution on the 19th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office’s special investigation team for health product distribution disruption crimes (led by Jeon Jun-cheol, Head of Anti-Corruption Division 2) and the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office’s Food and Drug Criminal Division conducted inspections over five days from the 12th to the 16th, together with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, covering all distribution stages from filter import and manufacturing to mask production and sales.

The prosecution and others selected a total of 52 companies involved in importing, manufacturing, or distributing filters and mask manufacturing and distribution as inspection targets. They mobilized 36 teams with 118 personnel (including 18 prosecutors; 82 from the prosecution office, 17 from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and 20 from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) to conduct the joint inspection.

A prosecution official stated, “Prosecutor General Yoon recently received a report on the investigation progress of health product distribution disruption crimes from Lee Sung-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and instructed that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, which is specialized in food and drug cases, jointly inspect not only mask manufacturing and sales but also the entire process of mask production, distribution, and sales in cooperation with related ministries such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.” He added, “Accordingly, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy conducted the joint inspection.”

He continued, “The problems and improvement points identified at each stage of the distribution structure through the joint inspection will be delivered to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and related ministries to propose institutional improvements.”

Currently, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is also conducting investigations into unreported and unlicensed mask manufacturers, distributors of defective or counterfeit filters, and large-scale mask distributors.

Meanwhile, the prosecution announced the problems and improvement measures identified at each stage of mask distribution during this inspection process.

First, at the filter manufacturing stage, it was assessed that since filter manufacturers are currently operating 24 hours a day in three shifts, further increases in KF94 fabric production are difficult. Also, as imports of MB filters from China have been blocked, it was proposed to produce BFE95 masks, known as medical masks, and supply them as public masks.

The prosecution explained that BFE95 masks also filter out more than 95% of bacteria, but the amount of filter required for manufacturing is about half that of KF94 masks.

Next, at the filter distribution stage, it was observed that filter distributors, abusing their dominant position, imposed unreasonable trading conditions on mask manufacturing factories and tended to hoard masks. To improve this, the prosecution plans to continuously monitor and inspect compliance with reporting obligations related to emergency supply measures and to thoroughly crack down on and investigate hoarding activities by these distributors.

At the mask manufacturing stage, problems were identified such as only finished masks being subject to production volume reporting to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, leaving bulk (unpackaged) semi-finished products outside the inspection scope, and defective products generated during manufacturing being distributed in the market.

Accordingly, the prosecution and others are considering including unpackaged products within the scope of government management, while strengthening unannounced and joint inspections of mask manufacturers and checks on waste disposal by mask manufacturers.

Finally, at the mask distribution stage, despite supply control measures, the proliferation of distributors and the increase in distribution stages have been found to raise prices. It was also revealed that most first-tier distributors are special affiliates of manufacturers who collect passage fees without performing any special roles. In response, the prosecution plans to consider temporarily introducing distribution regulations equivalent to those for pharmaceuticals for masks, which are classified as quasi-drugs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.