The rapid growth of Chinese e-commerce platforms offering ultra-low-cost products is drawing increased scrutiny of business practices and safety standards in both the European Union and South Korea.
Recent inspections in South Korea revealed the presence of harmful substances in certain items sold by major platforms such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress, putting global consumers on high alert. South Korea, known for its advanced digital trading system, has intensified checks on products imported through these platforms, uncovering serious violations of safety regulations.
Among the hazardous chemicals detected were phthalates and dioxane, found in concentrations far exceeding legal limits. These compounds were identified in everyday consumer items such as shoes and nail polish, raising serious concerns about the safety of products sold online.
South Korea, where the e-commerce sector is among the most advanced in the world, has launched a series of weekly inspections on products sold by platforms such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. The results of the latest inspection, announced on August 14, revealed significant violations: out of 144 products examined, many exceeded the allowable safety limits, with some particularly severe cases.
For example, one model of shoes sold on Shein was found to contain phthalates in concentrations 229 times higher than the legal limit. These chemical compounds, used to make plastics more flexible, are not only classified as carcinogenic but are also associated with risks such as infertility and premature births.
Even nail polishes proved hazardous. In two Shein nail polishes, inspectors found dioxane—a potentially carcinogenic substance that can cause liver damage—at levels 3.6 times above the legal limit, as well as methanol 1.4 times above acceptable levels. Temu also came under scrutiny, with inspectors detecting lead concentrations 11 times higher than the legal maximum.
In response to the allegations, Shein stated that it is cooperating with third-party international agencies that conduct tests to ensure its products meet safety standards. Temu, on the other hand, announced that it has launched an internal investigation and promptly removed the reported products from its marketplace.
Meanwhile, South Korean authorities have signed an agreement with Temu and AliExpress to strengthen product safety through stricter and more frequent inspections. This agreement represents an important step in regulating e-commerce platforms in South Korea, which is now the fourth-largest market in the world. The European Union has also recently signed a similar agreement with AliExpress to thoroughly check the safety of products sold on the Chinese platform.
The e-commerce market in South Korea is expanding rapidly, with millions of active users on platforms such as AliExpress and Temu. However, this exponential growth has drawn increased attention from authorities, who now aim to implement stricter regulations to ensure consumer safety.
South Korea continues to closely monitor the activity of e-commerce platforms, and recent findings highlight the need for constant vigilance to protect consumers from potentially dangerous products.
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