Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Investigation on 'Counterfeit Goods' Distribution Throughout May

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching a planned investigation into the distribution of counterfeit products.

The Gyeonggi Province Fair Trade Special Judicial Police announced on the 28th that it will conduct an intensive planned investigation throughout May into the distribution and sale of so-called "jjakttung" products, counterfeit goods illegally smuggled from overseas.

The investigation targets include ▲ the distribution and sale of products with trademarks similar to others' registered trademarks after opening online and offline shopping malls ▲ recruiting members and selling counterfeit products using mobile apps ▲ obtaining unfair profits by using counterfeit parts after opening private mobile phone repair shops ▲ distribution of counterfeit products harmful to the health of ordinary citizens ▲ and other trademark law infringement activities in general.

Considering the characteristics of "jjakttung" distribution and sales companies operated in a cell organization form, the provincial special judicial police will also receive calls through the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police website, KakaoTalk Plus Friend Gyeonggi Province Fair Trade Special Judicial Police, and the Gyeonggi Province Call Center (031-120).

In particular, investigative efforts will focus on online and offline sales targeting vulnerable demand groups such as young workers, university students, and housewives, and if necessary, experts' appraisals will be obtained to investigate damage cases.

Since September 2019, for three months, the province deployed special judicial police investigators and luxury product authentication specialists (BPS) to conduct an intensive investigation into the distribution and sale of "jjakttung" products, arresting 12 distributors and sellers who handled about 57,000 counterfeit products worth approximately 1.5 billion KRW.

The province plans to enhance the effectiveness of investigations by expanding cooperation with the Korea Customs Service and Seoul City in the future.

Under the current "Trademark Act," those who infringe on trademark rights or exclusive usage rights are subject to imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

Considering that the punishment under the Trademark Act is weaker than the profits gained from illegal business, the province plans to propose to the Korean Intellectual Property Office to significantly strengthen criminal penalties for sellers of "jjakttung" products to "imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to 300 million KRW."

Kim Young-su, head of the Gyeonggi Province Fair Trade Special Judicial Police, said, "The efforts of the Gyeonggi Province Fair Trade Special Judicial Police to eradicate unfair competition activities, including the sale and distribution of counterfeit products, will continue," and urged, "Since victim reports are decisive clues due to the distribution structure of jjaktung products traded secretly in a cell organization form, please actively report damage cases."

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