Fake K-beauty is surging, and Korea is launching a way to report it

If a bargain serum ever felt off, you are not alone. Counterfeit Korean-brand beauty is a growing problem, and Korea is responding.

Key numbers from the August 2026 report:

• 97.7% of counterfeit Korean-brand goods seized last year came from China
• 36,000 of the 210,000+ fake items removed in 2025 were beauty products
• 20,000 fake cosmetics intercepted in the first half of 2026

What is changing:

• A Counterfeit K-brand Reporting Center, where shoppers can report suspected fakes with QR codes and location, scheduled for October 2026
• Wider cooperation with platforms including Temu, TikTok Shop and Tokopedia
• Requests to foreign governments for investigations and customs seizures

The catch, experts say: sellers often reopen under new store names.

Where do you buy K-beauty abroad, and have you ever received something that seemed fake?

#KBeauty #Counterfeit #ShoppingTips

Source: Personal Care Insights — South Korea targets fake K-beauty surge as China spreads counterfeits to Europe