Carrot Market and Lightning Market Used Health Functional Foods have been extended, but...13,153 cases of violations over a year
Sep 05, 2025
The pilot project to allow transactions of health functional foods, which began on May 8 last year, has been extended until the end of this year, but it has been pointed out that there is still a lack of management.
According to data submitted by Seo Mi-hwa (Democratic Party of Korea) of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the online platforms 'Carrot Market' and 'Lightning Market', sales of used health functional foods traded on the two platforms from May 2024 to May 2025 totaled 3.358 billion won. During the same period, 93,755 sellers and 30,122 sales posts were counted.
During the period, a total of 13,153 sellers were sanctioned for violating the health functional food used regulations on the two platforms, with 509 cases of drug violations, 463 overseas direct purchases, 1,792, 608 consumption periods and 8008 others.
In particular, the poor monitoring system pointed out by Rep. Seo Mi-hwa last year has not improved this year. Carrot Market still has only five monitoring personnel, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's monitoring personnel are limited to the metropolitan area, raising concerns that management and supervision of products taken directly is steadily poor even though the pilot project has been extended.
The expansion of health food sales by large retailers is also raising conflicts. Daiso has joined hands with pharmaceutical companies to sell health functional foods, while convenience stores GS25 and CU are expanding their exclusive stands. Coupang is considering entering the store The plan was withdrawn due to resistance from the Pharmacy. It is pointed out that safety devices are still insufficient despite such a surge in distribution channels.
Rep. Seo Mi-hwa said, `As the pilot project for dry-season used transactions has been extended, we need to closely examine the safety of consumers and their impact on the market"Especially when necessary, the responsibility of used distribution platforms or the need for safeguards to strengthen transaction certification procedures should also be considered."
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the pilot project will be limited to two second-hand trading platforms (Carrot Market, Second-hand Country) equipped with a system to secure safety and distribution soundness. The product to be traded must be unopened, and all indications of the product, such as product name and health functional food design, must be available. In addition, only products with a shelf life of more than six months and a storage standard of room temperature or room temperature can be traded.
In addition, the number of individual transactions (sales) is limited to less than 10 times a year and accumulated less than 300,000 won to prevent excessive personal sales for commercial purposes, and foods brought into Korea through overseas direct purchases or purchasing agents for self-consumption are excluded from the transaction.
According to data submitted by Seo Mi-hwa (Democratic Party of Korea) of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the online platforms 'Carrot Market' and 'Lightning Market', sales of used health functional foods traded on the two platforms from May 2024 to May 2025 totaled 3.358 billion won. During the same period, 93,755 sellers and 30,122 sales posts were counted.
During the period, a total of 13,153 sellers were sanctioned for violating the health functional food used regulations on the two platforms, with 509 cases of drug violations, 463 overseas direct purchases, 1,792, 608 consumption periods and 8008 others.
In particular, the poor monitoring system pointed out by Rep. Seo Mi-hwa last year has not improved this year. Carrot Market still has only five monitoring personnel, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's monitoring personnel are limited to the metropolitan area, raising concerns that management and supervision of products taken directly is steadily poor even though the pilot project has been extended.
The expansion of health food sales by large retailers is also raising conflicts. Daiso has joined hands with pharmaceutical companies to sell health functional foods, while convenience stores GS25 and CU are expanding their exclusive stands. Coupang is considering entering the store The plan was withdrawn due to resistance from the Pharmacy. It is pointed out that safety devices are still insufficient despite such a surge in distribution channels.
Rep. Seo Mi-hwa said, `As the pilot project for dry-season used transactions has been extended, we need to closely examine the safety of consumers and their impact on the market"Especially when necessary, the responsibility of used distribution platforms or the need for safeguards to strengthen transaction certification procedures should also be considered."
|
In addition, the number of individual transactions (sales) is limited to less than 10 times a year and accumulated less than 300,000 won to prevent excessive personal sales for commercial purposes, and foods brought into Korea through overseas direct purchases or purchasing agents for self-consumption are excluded from the transaction.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
