Firms Face Fines for Measures Usage

“Real estate dealers are not the only ones baffled by the change in weights and measures. Who would not be confused after hearing that someone needs a 6000W air conditioner in a 50m² living room?”

The industrial circles have been under intense pressure, since the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy announced that it would impose a negligence fine on the use of “nonstandard” measurement units such as pyeong, geun, inches, and feet starting from next July. They say that not only does this plan bring confusion to consumers, but it also increases manufacturing costs drastically.

Confused consumers-

The companies are worried that consumers would have trouble comprehending the new standard measurement scales.

An employee who works in the electronic appliance industry says, “At the moment we use expressions like, “intended for 10-pyeong rooms” on air conditioners. I do not think there would be many consumers who would understand phrases like “intended for 50² rooms” or 6000W.”

The interior and furniture industry, which use measurement scales like pyeong are also unnerved. One interior industry executive says, “Consumers have trouble understanding, if we do not use the pyeong unit on the invoices for flooring material or wallpaper. We are considering attaching a conversion scale to our invoices and contracts so we can solve this problem.”

Companies bear the burden of the costs-

The change in weights and measures will lead to increased costs.

Huge amounts will be spent on marketing that would explain the new weights and measure to the consumers. Companies will have to remake product packaging, advertisements, and user’s manual.

Companies will also have to manufacture two sets of products – one for the domestic market and one for abroad.

The tire manufacturing industry realizes that it must make a model for the global market with the measurements in inches, and one for the domestic market with the measurements in millimeters. This would lead to unnecessary fixed investment on a different set of production frames.

A Kumho Tires employee says, “If we make two different sets of products, forecasting the demand and managing the inventory becomes very complicated. Costs may be incurred, because we would not be able to sell the domestic tires to foreign markets.

The ministry stands firm in their decision-

Despite the protests of industrial circles, the ministry is firm in its intent to enforce the use of standard measures and weights. It is planning to start enforcement procedures against misuse of units.

Administrative Official Kim Pan-soo of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said, “The geun represents different weights for vegetables and meat. It is confusing. Inaccurate units hurt consumers. Regulations are needed to set the official units into use.”

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