Copycat 'Hanjeong Seon' store opens in Shanghai, following fake CJ Olive Young outlet

A counterfeit store mimicking the South Korean brand Hanjeong Seon has opened in Shanghai, China, without authorization, drawing fresh criticism over the copying of Korean brands.

Hanjeong Seon is a Seoul-based brand specializing in handcrafted fresh-fruit glutinous rice cakes that got its start in Seongsu-dong.

Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, said Thursday that tips from numerous online users had confirmed the store's existence. "A Hanjeong Seon store has opened in Shanghai and has been confirmed to be operating openly, with no connection to the original company," Seo said.

"It would not be an exaggeration to say they copied everything — the name, the interior, the product packaging, even the display style," Seo added. "I really don't understand why China keeps doing this."

This is not the first time a counterfeit store imitating a Korean brand has appeared in China.

Earlier this year, a beauty store called "Only Young" (ONLY YOUNG), modeled after CJ Olive Young, was found operating in Changsha, Hunan Province, sparking controversy.

A store called "New York Bagelers Museum," mimicking the Seoul bakery chain London Bagel Museum, which originated in Jongno, has also set up shop in the heart of Shanghai.

Seo criticized the pattern as "a classic underhanded strategy to lure consumers by passing off stores as Korean-related businesses, as the value of Korean brands has risen globally."

Seo added that individual companies cannot address the problem on their own. "There is an urgent need for government-level cooperation on intellectual property protection and coordination with local law enforcement," Seo said.