Beware of fake beauty products, SoKor warns Filipino consumers

MANILA, Philippines — The South Korean government is urging Filipino consumers to be vigilant when purchasing Korean cosmetics amid cases of copyright infringement.

During the roundtable discussion on the promotion and protection of genuine Korean products organized by the Korean Embassy, Korean Minister Counsellor Kim Sunyoung said as Korean beauty products have become in demand in the country on the back of the rising popularity of Korean culture in terms of music, television dramas and movies, consumers should be careful when buying Korean beauty products as there are some cases of copyright infringement.

“We want to raise consumer awareness so that we help them make informed choices,” she said.

She said there are stores selling products with packaging using Korean language and characters which are not necessarily made by Korean companies, but could mislead consumers to believing such are of Korean origin.

Korea Copyright Commission Manila director Choi Seong Bae said the agency has conducted an investigation on two Korean-inspired concept stores in the Philippines such as Ilahui and Minigood.

Based on the probe, he said both stores use the Korean alphabet in their sign boards and products, as well as play Korean pop music to utilize the Korean wave marketing.

He also said both stores were found to be selling cosmetics with designs similar to that of popular cosmetic brands in Korea.

In addition, the agency’s probe showed the stores’ employees are educated or told their products are Korean and they work for Korean companies.

Given the findings, he said the Korean companies whose product packaging designs were copied may file a case for copyright violation, but must make sure they have registered their designs with the copyright office first.

Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines deputy director general Teodoro Pascua said that as it is the company which holds the copyright of a particular product, it is up to the company to initiate action against those who committed violations or infringement.

He said it would be beneficial for companies to remember to file or register trademarks or patents to protect their products.

“It is wise company policy that once you have created particular product or anything that is a creation of the mind, it would be good to register or protect the brand, the manner it was made… If you intend to market it abroad, it is better to register before it is marketed abroad,” he said.

As there are also cases of copyright infringement of Korean beauty products in other Southeast Asian countries, Kim said the South Korean government is undertaking efforts to address the issue by increasing consumer awareness.

“These violations are matters of great concern not only for Korean companies who have own brand images, but also for Filipino consumers who could be deceived into buying counterfeit product. In particular, counterfeit cosmetics not certified by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) could pose serious harm to consumers,” she said.