Seized Counterfeits Valued at W6.2 Trillion Since 2006

The value of counterfeit luxury goods seized by police while being smuggled into Korea since 2006 is estimated to be W6.2 trillion -- if they were genuine.

According to a report submitted by the Korea Customs Service to the Strategy and Finance Committee of the National Assembly on Sunday, 2006 saw the most counterfeits with the amount valued about W2.7 trillion.

The figure was W680.3 billion in 2007, W934.4 billion in 2008, W1.3 trillion in 2009, and W711.1 billion in the first eight months of 2010.

Watches were the most common knockoffs, making up nearly half of the total value at W3.6 trillion, followed by handbags (W798.3 trillion), clothes (W706.4 billion), and accessories (W309.2 billion). Fake erectile dysfunction drugs made up W175.2 billion.

China was the largest exporter of knockoffs, with 3,064 cases worth W4.6 trillion, making up 73.7 percent of the total.

englishnews@chosun.com / Oct. 11, 2010 10:34 KST