The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety said it uncovered 178 violations, including false or exaggerated advertising, in a focused inspection of online ads for medical devices, cosmetics, and quasi-drugs, for which gift demand is expected to increase ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
The inspection covered, among medical devices, magnetic field generators for medical use, personal low-frequency stimulators, and electric cupping devices; among cosmetics, functional cosmetics for whitening and wrinkle improvement and products claiming to relieve muscle pain; and among quasi-drugs, oral refreshers, tooth whitening agents, and toothpaste products.
In the medical device sector, 100 cases were detected in which magnetic field generators for medical use, personal low-frequency stimulators, and electric cupping devices without domestic approval were distributed and advertised via overseas purchasing agents (direct purchases).
The cosmetics inspection confirmed 35 cases of false or exaggerated advertising. The most common were 25 cases that advertised cosmetics as if they had pharmaceutical-like effects such as relieving muscle and joint pain, anti-inflammatory effects, and skin regeneration.
There were also nine ads that could mislead consumers into thinking general cosmetics were functional cosmetics, or that claimed effects different from the review or reporting details for functional cosmetics. Cases that used expressions likely to mislead consumers, such as "penetrates the skin," were also included.
For quasi-drugs, a review of ads for oral refreshers, tooth whitening agents, and toothpaste products—items often included in gift sets—found 43 cases of false or exaggerated advertising that went beyond approved effects and performance. Representative examples included marketing oral refreshers for "sensitive teeth improvement" or "periodontal disease improvement," and toothpaste for "gum regeneration" and "anti-inflammatory effects."
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety asked the Korea Communications Standards Commission and major online platforms such as Naver, Coupang, and 11Street to block access to violating posts, and requested on-site inspections by relevant authorities for companies with repeated violations.
It also noted that when consumers purchase medical devices, cosmetics, or quasi-drugs online, they may be exposed to illegal distribution or unfair advertising, and urged them to check approval and review information through the Medical Device Safety e-Shop and the Drug Safety Country websites before buying.
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety said it will continue to strengthen inspections of unfair online advertising focusing on medical products with increased consumption during specific periods such as holidays, aiming to prevent consumer harm and establish a sound distribution order.