I actually posted on this last month about how trademark violations was a strange offense to be convicted of in Korea and now the Stars and Stripes has the details about what happened:
Customs officials at Incheon International Airport said Tuesday they investigated six U.S. servicemembers in early June for trying to bring counterfeit watches and purses into South Korea from China.
The servicemembers — a mix of men and women, officers and enlisted personnel — carried between 30 and 70 items each as they returned from a private trip to China, officials said during a phone interview. [Stars & Stripes]
Sounds like these soldiers had quite a shopping trip. I understand enforcing trademark laws but does anyone think Korean customs would care if these soldiers bought these counterfeit watches and purses from Itaewon? Of course not, this is just an example of if you are going to buy counterfeit goods you must buy Korean counterfeit goods, not Chinese. That is the real crime these soldiers committed.
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11:38 am on August 31st, 2007 1
Koreans too get busted often trying to bring in counterfeit goods from China. So don’t turn this into another racial thing. As for the itaewon counterfeits, most of them are made in China anyway.
2:56 pm on August 31st, 2007 2
Sooo sensitive “Tom”. I believe it was intended to reflect on the greed aspect of Korea as a “country”, rather than the obvious racial feelings of the Korean People. Lighten up a little. I’m sure there will be plenty of “racial things” coming down the road. Maby tomorrow! They are most dependable in this area. (Most people are) Me too. At least I will admit it. Do Koreans?
3:06 pm on August 31st, 2007 3
No. Korean fakes are superior to Chinese.
5:33 am on September 1st, 2007 4
It is a Korean joke.
But they believe it patriotism, unfortunately.