Ikea still sells chests in Korea despite tip-over hazard

Ikea still sells chests in Korea despite tip-over hazard. July. 14, 2016 07:22. by 세종=신민기기자 minki@donga.com. Ikea, a multinational furniture supplier, has announced that it will make refund for chests that have caused child deaths overseas, but it is still selling the products in question in Korea, earning criticism that the recall is an incomplete one.

According to Ikea Korea on Wednesday, Ikea is making voluntary recall of a total of 33 chest products including the "Malm" chest when and if the buyer wants. These chests were so popular in Korea that more than 100,000 units have been sold from December 2014 to date.

The products should be used by fixing them on the wall, but most consumers do not follow this instruction. As a result, the chests could collapse forward due to force applied when pulling a drawer, frequently causing injury or even death. In the U.S., six children including infants were placed under the chest to death. “The products are not problematic at all if they are used as fixed on the wall, but we are making refund when buyers want, or sending tools for fixing the chest to the buyers for free,” an Ikea Korea source said.

It is problematic that the company continues selling the products, but it will also likely be somewhat controversial because the company makes refund with prepaid gift cards that can only be used at Ikea shops. “As I gave a call to the company upon learning that Ikea is making refund, I found that they just give prepared gift-cards issued by Ikea,” said Kwon, a 35-year-old man. “We know that the product has safety risks, and do they want me to buy other products at Ikea again?” in expressing anger.

Watchers say that Ikea’s moves result from the company’s arrogance and act despising Korean consumers. Ikea is not only making refund for, but also has completely halted sale of, the chests in question in the U.S. and Canada, where deaths and injuries were reported. “Do they think products that they stopped selling for safety concern in the U.S. are safe in Korea?” said Yoon Kyung-cheon, head of the safety monitoring team at the Korea Consumer Agency. “They should not use discriminatory policy for different countries when it comes to safety issue.”

The government is belatedly preparing measures to address the issue. The Korea Agency for Technology and Standards under the Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry received sales and other data from Ikea Korea on July 4, and is investigating whether its recall plan is appropriate or not. “We will complete investigation as soon as possible, and take the necessary measures for our consumers,” a source at the agency said.