Authorities find 110,000 children's products that fail to meet safety standards
Published: 30 Mar. 2026, 15:53
Updated: 30 Mar. 2026, 17:07
![Three types of children’s bags found to contain phthalate plasticizers and heavy metals are seen in this photo shared by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. [KOREAN AGENCY FOR TECHNOLOGY AND STANDARDS]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/30/971301ce-9a65-4f9c-8c27-c2fa3772e961.jpg)
Three types of children’s bags found to contain phthalate plasticizers and heavy metals are seen in this photo shared by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. [KOREAN AGENCY FOR TECHNOLOGY AND STANDARDS]
Authorities uncovered about 110,000 imported children’s products that failed to meet safety standards or contained hazardous substances during inspections in February ahead of the new school year in March, officials said on Monday.
The violations came to light during an intensive inspection at the customs clearance stage from Feb. 9 to 27, according to the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards and the Korea Customs Service.
Inspectors focused on 12 categories of learning and play products commonly used by children. Stationery, including pencils and erasers, accounted for the largest share with 74,000 items, followed by toys at 14,000 items.
Products without the Korea Certification (KC) — the country’s mandatory safety certification system for consumer goods — made up 69.7 percent of violations. Another 25.5 percent involved labeling violations, including missing or incorrect information, such as a lack of KC marks or certification numbers.
Products without KC cannot be legally sold in Korea because they may pose safety risks ranging from exposure to harmful chemicals to choking hazards and other defects.
Authorities also identified hazardous substances in several products. Three types of children’s bags, totaling 1,700 items, contained phthalate plasticizers and heavy metals, such as lead and calcium, at levels up to 270 times and 43 times above domestic safety limits, respectively.
Phthalate plasticizers are chemicals that can interfere with children’s growth and development, while lead and cadmium are harmful metals that can cause cancer and negatively affect the brain and body.
“Consumers should check whether products carry the KC mark when purchasing children’s goods,” an official from the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards said. “Certification status can be verified through the Safety Korea website.”
Authorities either returned or disposed of all products that failed to meet safety standards or contained hazardous materials.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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