Diet Medicine Raises Most Suspicion Among Korean Consumers

A research report shows that Korean consumers are wary of diet drugs most of all among consumer products. This finding was revealed yesterday in the 2007 consumer safety index report submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Economy by the Korea Consumer Agency after interviewing 1,600 people who are 20 years and older living in Seoul and six local cities for a month from the end of July, 2007.

The report says that the consumer security index of diet medicines and automobiles was 7.8/100. The index was the lowest among 62 items in five categories related to foods, health and sanitation, housing, leisure and transportation.

Imported marine products (9.8), imported stock farm products (11.6), laminate flooring and wallpaper (17.6), and obesity management services (17.8) followed. The index of imported agricultural products was 22.5, which shows that imported agricultural, marine and stock farm products were among the top-10 items that make consumers uneasy.

The Korea Consumer Agency said the distrust comes from the distribution, abuse, and misuse of drugs that are not proved safe and effective, and damage by illegal operations performed by unqualified people.

Additional research showed that accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol were most feared by consumers. This was followed by selling imported agricultural, marine and stock farm products under the name of local products, mad cow disease, and avian influenza, and antibiotics abuse in stock farm products and fish.

The combined safety index of five categories related to consuming was 37.21, showing that the public think consumer safety is under threat.

The number of consumer safety cases reported by consumers doubled from 8,884 in 2004 to 17,639 in 2006. The Ministry of Finance and Economy requested the agency conduct a second survey this year too, following last year’s, to utilize the results for consumer policy-making.

cha@donga.com