Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Scam alert: Beware of fake Korean masks
A KF94 face mask from Korean company Hansong, right, and the fake one with the same packaging / Korea Times
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Watch out for scammers who are trying to rip you off with fake Korean masks.
According to the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, scammers in Southeast Asia are selling fake Korean masks at a time when good-quality masks are difficult to find because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the surface, it may look just like a famous Korean product with a KF94 filter ― but what's inside is not the same.
“I have heard that some Chinese mask makers are trying to make a fortune by capitalizing on Korea's brand value,” a source told the paper. “Some people may just buy their fake products ― even though they know they are fake ― because they can make a lot of money (by reselling them).”
The Korean government has strictly restricted mask exports since Feb. 26 to ensure sufficient domestic supply.
Korean mask makers worry that such masks will undermine foreign customers' trust in Korea and Korean products in general.
“I was expecting surges in demand for Korean masks overseas … I'm worried that low-quality, fake masks will undermine prospects for my business,” another industry source said.