The Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) found that 18 out of 136 products failed to meet safety standards in an inspection of overseas direct-purchase goods ahead of rising spring demand.
KOIMA said Friday it conducted safety inspections targeting key product categories that see increased spring consumption, including children's back-to-school supplies and transitional-season clothing.
The inspection was carried out to verify the safety of cross-border e-commerce products in advance and create an environment where consumers can purchase goods with greater confidence. The review focused particularly on safety risk factors that could arise during actual use of everyday items such as children's products and clothing.
A total of 136 products were tested, covering back-to-school items including children's stationery and toys, as well as transitional-season clothing and other products with high spring demand. Seven accredited domestic testing institutions — KTR, KCL, KTC, KATRI, KOTITI, FITI and SGS — participated in the inspections, comprehensively evaluating physical safety and the presence of hazardous substances.
For products that failed to meet safety standards, KOIMA plans to work with AliExpress Korea to immediately halt sales and strengthen monitoring on the platform to prevent the same products from being redistributed. "As the overseas direct-purchase market expands, the need for safety management of everyday products such as children's goods and clothing is also growing," an association official said. "We will continue preemptive safety inspections focusing on key consumer products by season."
KOIMA has been conducting ongoing seasonal safety inspections of cross-border e-commerce products and plans to publish the results on its website.
