Products such as 'Wakpu Ball' and 'Malang-i', popular among children and on platforms like YouTube, have been found to contain hazardous substances at levels up to 176 times higher than safety standards for children's products.
On August 31, the Seoul Metropolitan Government reported that safety inspections of 20 items, including 13 tactile products labeled for ages 14 and older, three party items like balloons, two keychains, one sticker, and one acrylic marker, revealed that seven of these products exceeded safety limits for hazardous substances.
Among the tactile products, three contained phthalate plasticizers, which can disrupt the endocrine system, at levels up to 164.2 times the allowable limit for children's products. Phthalates were also detected in packaging at 142.7 times the limit, while cadmium, a known carcinogen, was found at 1.5 times the permissible level. Phthalates are used to soften plastics but can affect the endocrine system, and cadmium is a harmful heavy metal.
In leaching tests simulating scenarios where products might be placed in the mouth, two items exceeded the standard limits for formaldehyde, methanol, and boron by as much as 2.3 times.
One 'Wakpu Ball' product, which involves breaking a wax surface to touch the clay inside, contained the prohibited preservatives CMIT at 2.5 mg/kg and MIT at 0.8 mg/kg, both banned for toys intended for children under three years old. Additionally, a sticker's transparent adhesive backing showed phthalates at 176 times the safety limit and cadmium at five times the limit.
One keycap keychain was found to have a small battery that could detach during tensile testing, posing a choking hazard for children. All these products are labeled for ages 14 and older, meaning they are not subject to mandatory KC certification under the Special Act on Safety of Children's Products.
The Seoul government has requested a halt to the sale of these products on overseas online platforms that exceed safety standards for children's products. Furthermore, they are advising parents through school newsletters and signage in the toy district of Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, to check the age recommendations, KC marks, and safety warnings for products used by children under 13.
In September, the city plans to conduct safety inspections on children's stationery and backpacks sold on overseas online platforms.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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