"Always Use Korean Masks, Beware of Chinese Counterfeits"…The 'K Mask' That Captivated the US

One of the top infectious disease experts in the United States, Harvard University professor Eric Feigl-Ding, recommended Korean-made KF94 masks by posting a photo on his Twitter. Photo by Eric Feigl-Ding Twitter capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] Amid the recent campaign to mandate mask-wearing in the United States, American media and experts are recommending Korean-made KF94 masks, sparking a 'K Mask' craze in the U.S.

On the 24th of last month, Eric Feigl-Ding, a leading infectious disease authority at Harvard University, tweeted, "My favorite premium mask is the Korean-made KF94," adding, "The KF94 provides ample space between the mouth and the mask, making it comfortable to speak and safe." He further praised it, saying, "The KF94 is so comfortable that you almost forget you are wearing it."

New York Times health columnist Tara Parker-Pope also recommended Korea's KF94 in her column on the 21st of last month, stating, "When I asked Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, he said, 'Medical N95 masks perform the best, but those should be reserved for healthcare workers. For the general public, the KF94, which performs similarly to the N95, is sufficient.'"

Moreover, major U.S. media outlets such as The Washington Post, CBS, and USA Today have all highlighted the importance of masks and commonly recommended the KF94 mask. The Washington Post reported, "The biggest advantage of the KF94 is that it performs similarly to the N95, is easily available on the market, and is affordable enough to be used as a disposable mask." Columbia University infectious disease expert Professor Steven Moss emphasized in an interview with the U.S. public broadcaster NPR, "Since there are many counterfeit Chinese masks, be sure to use KF94 masks produced in Korea."

Recently, searching 'KF94' on Twitter yields dozens of praise posts daily, such as "KF94 truly offers the best cost-effectiveness."

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