The issue of harmful substances found in the ultra-small toy "Malang-i" and the illegal import of weight loss drugs "Wegovy" and "Monjaro" emerged as key topics during the National Assembly's audit of the Customs Agency on October 15.
Rep. Ahn Sang-hoon of the ruling People Power Party highlighted the dangers of tactile toys and the illegal importation of prescription-only weight loss drugs during the audit held at the Government Complex in Daejeon. He urged for stricter enforcement and improvements to related regulations.
According to data released by Ahn, among 76 tactile toys investigated by the National Institute of Technology and Standards, nine products were found to exceed safety limits for harmful substances. Notably, two products that received KC certification were also found to contain banned preservatives.
The volume of overseas direct purchases has surged, increasing from approximately 20,000 cases in 2023 to 244,000 cases by August this year.
There has also been a significant rise in the detection of illegal imports of weight loss drugs Wegovy and Monjaro, which require a doctor's prescription. As of August this year, 5,030 cases of illegal imports were reported, more than quadrupling from the total of 1,189 cases detected last year.
Ahn stated, "If we consider the undetected cases, an enormous quantity is likely being imported into the country. These drugs are brought in cheaply from countries like Japan, and if side effects occur without proper medical supervision, it could lead to substantial losses for the national health insurance system."
In response to these concerns, Customs Commissioner Lee Jong-wook assured that they are intensively monitoring Malang-i and Monjaro, stating that all confiscated items will be destroyed, and they will take strict action against repeated commercial imports.
When Ahn demanded effective measures be reported before the upcoming comprehensive audit, Lee agreed to submit them.
Additionally, the issue of outdated inspection equipment and insufficient capabilities at the Customs Agency was raised during the audit. Ahn pointed out that out of 376 X-ray machines owned by the agency, 121 are not functioning properly, calling for the swift replacement of outdated equipment and the enhancement of the scanning system.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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