Fake luxury bags sold to foreigners in Gangnam

By Kim Da-hee

Fake luxury bags are being sold in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where many high-end stores are located.

The tourist police force of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday it booked a woman, surnamed Kim, 35, without detention for allegedly selling fake luxury bags to a foreign tourist.

Police said the Chinese tourist bought three bags for 960,000 won ($843) at Kim’s store, which sells secondhand luxury goods in Gangnam-gu. The customer doubted the genuineness of the items because of their price. But the autographs of many celebrities displayed in the shop persuaded her to believe the goods were genuine.

When the tourist returned to China, she discovered the bags were fakes and reported this to Korean police.

Police checked Kim’s shop and confiscated 120 million won ($105,042) worth of alleged fakes.

“Fake luxury items were sold secretly to foreign tourists in the Namdaemun and Dongdaemun area,” police said. “Sales of counterfeits to foreign tourists have spread to Gangnam.”

Police said they will crack down on the sale of fake products because it harms the tourism industry.