'Illegal and Substandard Wood OUT' Korea Forest Service Cracks Down on Quality of Everyday Wood Products

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 10 Apr.2025 08:31(KST)

The Korea Forest Service announced on the 10th that it will conduct inspections on the import and production of illegal and substandard wood products as well as the quality of wood products.

The inspections will be carried out by inspection teams formed by the Korea Forest Service, local forest services (National Forest Management Offices), and the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute, targeting companies importing and producing wood products.

The inspection team is conducting quality control of wooden products on site. Photo by Korea Forest Service

The main items subject to inspection include 15 products closely related to public health and daily life: ▲sawn timber ▲preservative-treated wood ▲fire-retardant wood ▲wood-plastic composites ▲glued laminated timber ▲plywood ▲particleboard ▲fiberboard ▲oriented strand board ▲wood flooring ▲wood pellets ▲wood chips ▲wood briquettes ▲molded charcoal ▲charcoal.

Previously, the Korea Forest Service reflected the revised "Standards and Quality Criteria for Wood Products" by restricting the use of plywood based on formaldehyde emission grades since August last year, and applying a ban on the use of barium and barium compounds in molded charcoal since January.

During the inspections, the Korea Forest Service plans to focus on the registration of wood production businesses, compliance with wood product quality standards, and the appropriateness of quality labeling.

If violations are found on site, offenders may face imprisonment of up to three years or fines of up to 30 million won under the "Act on the Sustainable Use of Wood."

Lee Seong-jin, Director of the Wood Industry Division at the Korea Forest Service, said, "We will continue to make efforts to protect public health from illegal and substandard wood products and to establish a proper distribution order for wood products." He added, "Since illegal and substandard wood products can negatively affect public safety, we urge on-site companies to take the lead in complying with regulations."