Court Fines Group 30 Million Won for Selling 'Bulk Masks' During Mask Shortage Crisis

Seoul Central District Court building in Seocho-dong, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Heavy fines have been imposed on a group who illegally sold so-called 'bulk masks'?masks without official packaging?during the mask shortage caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to the legal community on the 22nd, Chief Judge Choi Chang-seok of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 8 sentenced A (43), B (42), and C (44), who were indicted for violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, to fines of 30 million won each.

Chief Judge Choi stated, "The defendants' actions took advantage of the nationwide mask shortage situation to gain economic benefits, posing risks to public health and increasing public anxiety, which is highly condemnable."

In February of this year, when COVID-19 spread and the price of health masks soared, A purchased 100,000 health masks in so-called 'bulk' condition?without any labeling of the name of the quasi-drug, manufacturing number, or expiration date?from a mask distributor and sold them to B and C for 130 million won.

B and C, who purchased the bulk masks from A, resold them to distributors for 170 million won, reportedly making a profit of 40 million won.

The current Pharmaceutical Affairs Act prohibits the sale of quasi-drugs that do not have the legally required information such as the name and manufacturer indicated.

During the trial, A and others argued that they did not know their actions were punishable, but this was not accepted.

The Supreme Court holds the position that simple 'ignorance of the law'?not knowing in advance that the prohibited act was illegal?does not affect the establishment of a crime or punishment.

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