Industry ministry finds harmful substances in nine squishy toys

The industry ministry ordered the recall of two children's toys and identified seven adult-labeled products as unsafe after detecting harmful chemicals in nine out of 76 squishy toys tested. The surge in inspections was driven by growing safety concerns as these tactile toys gained traction among both children and adults.

Of the 37 children's products bearing the mandatory KC certification mark, two failed to meet safety standards after tests revealed banned preservatives including MIT and CMIT. Authorities have issued recall orders and registered them on the Hazardous Product Sales Blocking System to prevent distribution.

The inspection found a much higher non-compliance rate among the 39 products marked for users aged 14 and older, which are not subject to KC certification. Seven of these adult items, or 17.9 percent, exceeded limits for phthalate plasticizers and boron or contained prohibited preservatives, compared with a 5.4 percent failure rate in the certified children's category.

To prevent sales to minors, the ministry has launched concentrated inspections of distribution channels in collaboration with local governments since July. Retailers are being guided to physically separate products labeled for ages 14 and up from children's sales sections, while additional crackdowns targeting stationery stores near elementary schools began Aug. 24 ahead of the fall semester. The agency also plans to revise relevant standards to strengthen safety requirements for harmful chemical substances in these products.

"Products labeled for ages 14 and older do not have guaranteed safety," said Kim Dae-ja, head of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. "Consumers must verify the presence of the KC mark when purchasing toys for children." He added that the agency will continue conducting safety surveys and cracking down on illegal or defective products to ensure market safety.