Controversy Over the Sale of Dangerous Toys Targeting Elementary School Students
Concerns are growing in society as dangerous toys containing actual medical syringes are being sold near elementary schools.
According to a KBS report on the 23rd, a toy named "Alien Pimple Popper" is designed to be used by injecting foreign substances into the silicone face of a doll with a syringe and then squeezing it out by hand.
The issue lies in the actual medical syringe-like metal needle included in this toy. This needle is extremely sharp and poses a risk of piercing the skin during use. Some experiments have confirmed the danger by showing that it can penetrate a plastic bottle.
Controversy Over Evading Safety Certification and Legal Issues
Under current laws, toys intended for children under 13 must receive domestic safety certification known as "KC certification." However, this product labels the intended age as "14 and older" to evade KC certification, instead displaying only the CE certification mark used in Europe.
The actual purchasing demographic is elementary school students, who can easily buy this toy without age verification at unmanned stores and stationery shops.
According to Article 17 of the Medical Devices Act, selling medical devices, including syringes, requires notification of sales to the local authority where the business is located. However, this toy has been identified as being illegally distributed without following such legal procedures.
Responses from Educational Authorities and Parent Associations
The Gangwon Provincial Office of Education has recognized the danger of the toy and instructed all schools in the province to strengthen student safety education.
The Gangwon Education Love Parent Association also issued an emergency statement on the 19th, urging an immediate halt to the sale of the toy and calling for legal action.
In the statement, they said, "This toy goes beyond simple play and threatens children's physical safety; it could encourage medical device misuse and self-harm behaviors among teenagers," adding, "The syringe is a medical invasive device, and manufacturing, distributing, or selling it without authorization is a clear violation of the Medical Devices Act."
They further warned that "accidents that could occur if elementary school students play with such tools can lead to significant incidents that are beyond simple injuries and directly linked to life-threatening situations."
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also expressed concerns that the syringes included in the toy could be misused by adolescents for self-harm purposes.
The Ministry requested that "efforts be made to ensure that syringes sold for medical purposes are not distributed or sold to minors at stationery stores near schools."
The Gangwon Education Love Parent Association demanded:
– A thorough investigation and complete recall of the production, distribution, and sale of the product
– Administrative and legal measures against the selling stores and manufacturing/distribution companies
– Proactive measures to block harmful toys
– Strengthening safety education for children.
They emphasized, "The principle of zero tolerance must be applied to products that threaten children's lives and health," stating, "It is urgent to establish institutional measures to fundamentally prevent this."
Image source: Gangwon Education Love Parent Association.
