Korean cosmetics secretly traded in North Korea. /Photo=Daily NK
It was reported on the 17th that North Korean authorities are conducting an intensive crackdown on the import and distribution of South Korean products.
Daily NK, a source from North Hamgyong Province, said, “A large-scale crackdown on the distribution of Korean goods began on the 7th, led by the 82nd Sangmu (82nd Union Command), which cracks down on anti-socialism and anti-socialism.”
According to sources, a lot of goods coming in through Rason Port are distributed in North Hamgyong Province, and the 82nd Combined Command is cracking down on the influx of Korean goods mixed in.
Currently, it is known that the 82nd Union Command checks the country of origin of products sold by merchants if they are particularly expensive or have a unique design, and confiscates the products unconditionally even if the trademark has been removed.
As crackdowns on Korean products are carried out frequently, merchants selling imported products are said to remove any labels or packaging indicating the country of origin before selling them. However, the 82nd Combined Command treats all products with damaged trademarks as Korean products.
Accordingly, merchants try to remove any traces of trademark rips and do not place Korean cosmetics, shampoos, clothes, etc. on their shelves. When a customer secretly asks, “Do you have any Korean products?” they only carefully show the products, thus implicitly. Selling Korean products.
Meanwhile, the source reported that there are cases where the 82nd Combined Command is fiercely opposing the unconditional confiscation of the items even though they are unable to provide clear evidence that they are Korean items.
For example, on the 11th, a woman in her 40s selling clothes in Hoeryeong City was cracked down by the 82nd Joint Command. At this time, when the inspectors did not present any evidence and threatened to “give up all the Korean products you have,” she asked, “Where are the Korean products?” There was a time when people confronted me by saying, “Are you asking me to hand it over to you?”
As the fight continued between the enforcement officers and the woman, nearby merchants gathered around and began to take the woman’s side. At the same time, the merchants protested, saying, “What’s wrong with selling goods in the marketplace?”, “If they take away goods without any evidence that they are Korean, what are we supposed to make a living from?”, “Where have they been selling all the goods confiscated from us?” did it
“Business people have exploded in dissatisfaction with excessive crackdowns,” the source said. “Furthermore, shopkeepers are reacting harshly to crackdowns because they believe that inspectors are confiscating goods and making unfair money from them.”
In fact, the source said, there is widespread criticism among merchants that the enforcement agencies are taking Korean goods for their own benefit.
The source said, “The merchants are saying that they will eventually make money by confiscating the goods because they are Korean goods,” and added, “That is why there is a lot of dissatisfaction with this crackdown.”
