"Mallangi" and "Wakppubol" and other imported squishy (soft, sponge-like toy) products have been found for sale without KC certification. KC certification is a system that proves the safety of products with potential risks.
KC certification is mandatory for children's products, but as squishy products have recently gained popularity among adults as stress relievers, cases have emerged of attaching a "for ages 14 and up" label to bypass KC certification procedures. The problem is that these products are actually being sold to children under 14. The authorities have launched a safety survey.
◇ Dodging KC certification with a single line, "for ages 14 and up"
Based on ChosunBiz reporting compiled on the 2nd, the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) has begun a safety survey targeting squishy products such as Mallangi and Wakppubol. A KCA official said, "There have been many verified cases via social media (SNS) of adults-only squishy general merchandise being used by children," and noted, "We plan to investigate both whether hazardous substances are detected and the status of ingredient labeling."
Under the Special Act on Safety of Children's Products, children's toys must obtain KC certification. Children's toys must display required items such as the month and year of manufacture and the usable age range, along with the KC certification mark, on the smallest packaging unit.
The problem is that the criteria distinguishing whether something is a children's product are not clear. According to the "children's product guidelines" of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, whether something is a children's product is determined by comprehensively considering size, function, safety devices, color, advertising methods, and consumer perception. The manufacturer's intent and the primary user group are also included among the factors.
Because of this, if manufacturers or importers label products as "not for under age 14" or "for ages 14 and up," citing the recent popularity of Mallangi among adults as a stress-relief item, they can be classified as general merchandise. In that case, they are exempt from the KC certification obligation.
◇ Mixed sales of children's and adult versions in the field
Chinese-made squishy products are exploiting a blind spot. A full review of squishy products sold by stationery and household goods specialty retailer A found that 55 out of 150 types (36.7%) did not have KC certification. All were Chinese-made.
Because the line between children's and adult versions is ambiguous, the government recommends that sellers separate and display the two product groups at the point of sale. However, it was confirmed that at A's store, where the full review was conducted, as well as along Seoul's "Dongmyo toy street," children's and adult products were displayed and sold without separation.
A said, "We indicate the age as for ages 14 and up," and added, "For products we import directly, we complete the necessary certification procedures before sale."
◇ Will the "slime" controversy from seven years ago be repeated?
Safety issues surrounding toys with a blurry line between children's and adult versions have been raised multiple times. A representative case is the once-trendy "slime" products.
When the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) investigated slime products in 2019, hazardous substances exceeding safety standards were detected in some products, and mass sales suspensions and disposal orders followed.
Experts say that if products are distributed in Korea, they should undergo minimum safety verification regardless of the intended user age. Lee Young-ae, a professor in the Department of Consumer Science at the University of Incheon, said, "Substances harmful to children are also harmful to adults," and added, "We need to fill the regulatory gap that excludes products from safety management based solely on age distinctions."
However, the government says it is realistically difficult to uniformly strengthen prior regulations for products across all age groups. An official at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) said, "To strengthen regulations, both adult and children's products would have to obtain KC certification, and there is considerable industry pushback," and added, "There are aspects where we have no choice but to rely on the market's autonomy."