Recently, Most Korean factories and trading companies are buying cheap tubes and pipes from China and changing the labels to "Made in Korea." to get orders.

You must be extremely careful if price is too cheap. 

If a quality problem or accident happens later, these dishonest companies will never take responsibility for your losses.

To protect your business and budget, here is what you need to know right now.

Government Update: New Tracking Law for HS Code 7304.41 & 7304.90

This problem is becoming very serious. To stop this fraud, the Korean government started a strict "Distribution Tracking System" on December 1st 2025.

Now, the government strictly tracks the movement of these specific steel products:

·        HS Code 7304.41 (Seamless tubes, pipes, and hollow profiles of iron or steel, cold-drawn or cold-rolled)

·        HS Code 7304.90 (Other seamless tubes and pipes)

Under this law, companies must report every step of where these Chinese materials go in Korea. 

If a company hides this or fakes the document, they face heavy legal punishment.

The 60% Rule: Simple Packing is Illegal

By law, simply importing Chinese raw materials and doing minor work in Korea does not make the product Korean.

·        The value added in Korea must be more than 60% to legally change the origin to "Made in Korea."

·        Buying finished Chinese tubes and issuing a Korean certificate is a serious crime.

 3 Steps to Protect Your Project

Before you pay or sign a contract, always protect yourself with these steps:

1.     Demand Form AK: For Southeast Asian buyers, always check the Korea-ASEAN Certificate of Origin. Fake products cannot get this official form.

2.     Require EN10204 3.2: Do not accept standard 3.1 mill test certificates. Demand a 3.2 certificate signed by a trusted third-party inspector (like SGS, BV, or Lloyd's).

3.     Visit the Factory Without Notice: Visit the Korean factory exactly when the raw materials are supposed to arrive. See if they are actually manufacturing or just hiding Chinese boxes.

Protect Your Assets with a Trusted Partner Like ASEA METAL 

One defective tube or pipe can ruin your entire plant, and fake suppliers will run away when a problem happens. 

Our company guarantees 100% legal origins and total transparency. 

Contact us today to secure your project safely.