A hair salon owner in her 50s who illegally imported hazardous chemicals containing carcinogens and used them in beauty treatments for years has received a suspended prison sentence.
According to legal sources Thursday, Judge Lee Ho-yeon of the Busan District Court's Criminal Division 11 sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered 80 hours of community service on charges of violating the Chemical Substances Control Act and other laws.
A, who runs a hair salon in Busan, is accused of illegally importing products containing formalin (formaldehyde), a toxic substance, from January 2020 to September 2024 and using them in straight perm treatments for customers. Formalin and formaldehyde are toxic substances recognized as carcinogenic and skin-irritating, and are prohibited for use as cosmetic ingredients.
Despite this, A brought in the products through overseas websites after learning that the ingredients were effective in bonding hair proteins, and mixed them with domestic products for use, according to the investigation.
A purchased the products on overseas online marketplaces without filing import declarations and received them through international shipping, bringing in a total of 1,729.4 kilograms over 189 separate occasions. She reportedly charged customers between 260,000 won ($180) and 360,000 won ($250) per treatment.
In the process, she was charged with importing toxic substances without reporting to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, handling and conducting business with hazardous chemicals without a permit, and importing and storing products containing banned ingredients.
Prosecutors sought the forfeiture of 280 million won ($194,000) in criminal proceeds, but the court rejected the request. "Based solely on the evidence submitted, it is difficult to conclude that hazardous chemicals were used in all treatments, and there is a possibility that normal business revenue was included, making it difficult to specify the criminal proceeds," the court said.
"The defendant's culpability is grave in that she continued the crimes for a long period while being aware of the dangers of hazardous chemicals," the court added. "However, the sentence was determined in consideration of the fact that she admitted to the crimes and pledged not to reoffend, and that she has no prior convictions exceeding a fine."
