30-Year-Old Sentenced to Prison for Hoarding 15,000 Masks Using 'Macro' During Mask Shortage Crisis

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] A man in his 30s who used an automatic input repetition program called a 'macro' to purchase large quantities of health masks from an online shopping mall and resold them at high prices was sentenced to prison in the first trial.

On the 18th, Judge Lee Yooyoung of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Eastern District Court announced that Park Mo (31), who was indicted for obstruction of business, was sentenced to 8 months in prison.

Park is accused of using a macro he developed in February, during the early spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), to purchase a total of 15,121 KF94 masks in 602 transactions from the e-commerce company Coupang, thereby obstructing Coupang's mask management and sales operations.

At that time, Coupang limited mask purchases to 2 boxes per item per purchase and a maximum of 400 masks per household per month to prevent buyers from hoarding masks and making excessive profits. Park was investigated for evading these regulations by using 17 accounts, changing IP addresses, and frequently altering delivery addresses in addition to using the macro.

It was also found that Park resold the masks he purchased at high prices together with accomplices to make a profit.

The court criticized Park, stating, "At a time when mask shortages were occurring nationwide and mask prices were soaring uncontrollably, he organized and intelligently obstructed Coupang's efforts to sell masks fairly and affordably to enhance the company's image," and described the crime as very serious.

The court added, "While strict punishment is necessary, the defendant is a first-time offender with no prior criminal record," explaining the reasoning behind the sentencing.

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