Was It a Fake Mask Even Though It Was Labeled 'KF 94'?

Busan City Cracks Down on 20 Individuals from 16 Companies for Selling Non-Compliant Masks, False Labeling, and Exaggerated Advertising

Promotional material of masks caught for false and exaggerated advertising. [Image source=Busan City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Masks, relied upon as essential items in the COVID-19 era to block droplets, were often found to be 'fake.' Even some KF-94 health masks with poor efficiency were being openly sold.

Busan City has taken strong action against companies that engaged in exaggerated and false advertising.

Busan City's Special Judicial Police announced on the 10th that from July to October, they conducted a planned investigation into whether distributed masks met standards and whether online promotional product sellers engaged in false labeling and deceptive or exaggerated advertising of quasi-drug masks. The Special Judicial Police identified and referred 20 individuals from 16 companies for prosecution.

Busan City stated that due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, demand for masks increased not only for personal protection but also as gifts or for events, prompting a large-scale planned investigation to ensure citizens could purchase safe masks.

Busan City collected 14 quasi-drug mask products sold at large stores in July and tested them through the Health and Environment Research Institute to verify compliance with quasi-drug standards.

Additionally, for the first time among local governments, from the end of August to October, they investigated the websites of promotional product sellers for false labeling and deceptive or exaggerated advertising of quasi-drug masks.

The Special Judicial Police uncovered a total of 16 companies and 20 individuals, including ▲ one company manufacturing, distributing, and selling masks that did not meet standards ▲ nine companies falsely labeling and advertising industrial products as quasi-drug masks ▲ three companies making false or exaggerated claims about the efficacy of quasi-drug masks ▲ and three companies both falsely labeling industrial products as quasi-drug masks and making false or exaggerated claims about the efficacy or performance of quasi-drug masks.

Among the companies caught, Company A, which manufactured, distributed, and sold masks that did not meet standards, was found to have produced 'health masks (KF-94)' that failed to meet dust collection efficiency criteria.

Dust collection efficiency refers to the rate at which masks filter out yellow dust, fine dust, and other particles during air inhalation.

According to Busan City's Special Judicial Police, the 'yellow dust protection mask (KF-94, small size)' produced by Company A in early June 2020 had dust collection efficiencies of 92.2% under general conditions and 93% under stagnant conditions, which did not meet the KF-94 mask standard of 94%.

Company A produced and sold 210,000 non-compliant masks, earning approximately 142 million KRW in profits.

Additionally, 15 other companies, including Company B, were caught falsely labeling industrial product masks as quasi-drug masks with claims such as 'coronavirus prevention mask, yellow dust prevention mask, fine dust mask, droplet blocking, harmful substance blocking, fine dust blocking,' and engaging in false or exaggerated advertising.

Company B was confirmed to have deceived consumers by false labeling and sold industrial product masks worth about 1 million KRW.

Among the businesses caught violating the 'Pharmaceutical Affairs Act,' those manufacturing, producing, or selling masks that do not meet standards face up to five years imprisonment or fines up to 50 million KRW, along with a three-month suspension of the product.

Those falsely labeling and advertising industrial products as quasi-drug masks face up to five years imprisonment or fines up to 50 million KRW, and those making false or exaggerated claims about efficacy or performance face up to one year imprisonment or fines up to 10 million KRW.

Lee Byung-seok, Director of the Busan City Citizen Safety Office, said, "Investigations are ongoing into the headquarters managing the websites of the promotional product sellers caught and their suppliers," adding, "We are strengthening continuous monitoring of acts falsely labeling and exaggerating industrial products as quasi-drug masks."

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