KIPO to Crack Down on Fake K-pop Goods During J-Hope Concert

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) will conduct a crackdown on counterfeit K-pop merchandise and launch a related campaign in line with BTS member J-Hope's concert schedule.

On June 12, KIPO's Special Judicial Police for Trademarks announced that they would carry out enforcement against counterfeit goods and host a campaign promoting respect for intellectual property at J-Hope's world tour final concert, which will be held on June 13 at Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

Counterfeit K-pop merchandise seized in a recent planned crackdown is displayed inside a store. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

The campaign is a joint initiative by KIPO, HYBE, and the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency. Under the slogan "No Fakes, Only Originals!", the campaign will feature interactive programs such as a physical exhibition comparing genuine and counterfeit products, as well as social media photo certification events.

The campaign aims to encourage voluntary participation from K-pop fans, including J-Hope's supporters, through activities like sharing reviews on social media and subscribing to YouTube channels, thereby raising awareness about the importance of purchasing genuine products.

KIPO emphasized that this initiative is significant because it is a "field-based policy promotion" built on empathy and participation, rather than a one-sided, enforcement-focused approach. The campaign is being recognized as a model of exemplary public-private cooperation for proactively addressing the issue of counterfeit goods.

HYBE stated, "An artist's creations and brand are assets built on trust with fans, going beyond mere products," adding, "Purchasing genuine products is the most direct way to respect artists and protect intellectual property. HYBE will continue to work with KIPO to eradicate counterfeit goods and raise awareness."

Previously, on April 23, the trademark police conducted a planned crackdown in the Myeong-dong area of Seoul, seizing a total of 29,111 counterfeit K-pop merchandise items, including 6,759 BTS-related goods such as photo cards, keyrings, and mugs. Two distributors and sellers were booked without detention for violating the Trademark Act as a result of the operation.

In addition, from May 26 to June 10, authorities focused on cracking down on counterfeit K-pop merchandise distributed online, blocking 6,710 posts selling counterfeit goods on major platforms.

The trademark police plan to use information collected through online monitoring to investigate, track, and apprehend habitual and multi-channel sellers.

KIPO Deputy Commissioner Mok Seongho stated, "K-pop and other Korean Wave content are themselves high value-added intellectual property. The distribution of counterfeit goods imitating these works is a criminal act that simultaneously threatens the industrial ecosystem and consumer safety."

He added, "KIPO will continue to take the lead in expanding a culture of purchasing genuine products by linking crackdowns on counterfeit goods with campaigns promoting respect for intellectual property at concerts, festivals, and other public events."

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