The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) said on the 16th that it ordered distribution blocks for 1,396 overseas recalled products that circulated in Korea last year.
Among the items subject to corrective action last year, 826 cases were identified as being confirmed for the first time in domestic distribution. This was up 43.2% from a year earlier.
By item, home appliances, electronics, and telecommunications devices accounted for the largest share at 28.3% of the total. They were followed by food and beverages at 19.7% and cosmetics at 12.1%.
For home appliances, electronics, and telecommunications devices, the most common recall reason was electrical hazards such as risk of electric shock at 30.8%. Containing hazardous or chemical substances followed at 27.4%, and fire risks such as overheating, smoke, or ignition at 22.2%.
For food and beverages, containing hazardous substances or allergenic substances accounted for the highest share at 68.7%. In the case of cosmetics, containing hazardous or chemical substances accounted for 62%, making up most of the recalls.
Based on 536 cases where the country of manufacture was identified, products made in China were the most common at 62%. They were followed by those made in Japan at 6.5% and in the United States at 5.6%.
The distribution by producing country also differed by detailed item. For home appliances, electronics, and telecommunications devices, the share made in China was the highest, while for food and beverages it was those made in Japan, and for cosmetics, products made in the United States were relatively more widely distributed, it was found.
The agency said overseas recalled products often enter the country through purchasing agents rather than official import channels. Because of this, even if sales are blocked by existing sellers, there is a possibility they will be redistributed through other businesses, it noted, emphasizing the need for continued management and oversight.
Under the Voluntary Product Safety Agreement signed with domestic and overseas online platform operators to prevent the redistribution of blocked products, the number of redistribution cases came to 570. The rate decreased by 16 percentage points from a year earlier.
The number of corrective actions for overseas recalled products has increased for three consecutive years. The related actions rose from 983 in 2023 to 1,336 in 2024, and further expanded to 1,396 last year.
The agency plans to strengthen safety management this year by expanding the participating agencies in the pan-government consultative body to block the inflow of hazardous overseas goods, the Overseas Hazardous Goods Management Working Council, and by accelerating early detection and blocking of hazards and improving systems. It also plans to work with domestic and overseas online platforms to shorten the monitoring cycle for redistribution.
The agency urged, "When purchasing products through overseas direct purchases or purchasing agents, check whether the product has been recalled overseas on the Consumer Hazard Monitoring System website," and added, "You should also check whether it has the relevant country's safety certification and inspect the condition of the delivered product for damage or contamination."