Korea, Cambodia to conduct joint crackdowns on K-branded counterfeits

Officials from the Korea Customs Service hold a meeting with Cambodian customs authorities in Sejong, Wednesday. Courtesy of Korea Customs Agency

Korea's customs agency said Thursday it signed an agreement with Cambodian customs authorities to conduct joint crackdowns on those who supply or distribute counterfeit goods of Korean brands.

The agreement, signed Wednesday, comes amid a growing number of fake products of Korean brands, including food and cosmetics, being distributed in the Southeast Asian region, the Korea Customs Service said.

The two sides also agreed to carry out "Operation IPR Border-Lock 2026," a joint investigation targeting criminal rings that distribute K-branded counterfeit products across borders, this year.

The Korean customs agency said the agreement would serve as a turning point in protecting the intellectual properties of Korean companies in Southeast Asia, and vowed to foster a safer environment for domestic exporters.