[Courtesy of IKEA]
Swedish furniture group IKEA has agreed to recall 15 dressers sold in South Korea only after a government agency released revised safety regulations on tip-over incidents, officials said Friday.
Consumer concerns have been widespread in South Korea over the safety of some IKEA products since the furniture maker recalled 36 million dressers in the United State and Canada in June after six children were crushed to death when Malm chests toppled on them.
Sales of the drawers were suspended in North America but IKEA has balked at recalling them in South Korea, citing lack of related regulations.
The recall in South Korea came after the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) worked out new safety regulations after inspecting products from IKEA and ten other furniture brands.
KATS said the 11 furniture brands have agreed to recall 27 products and suspend their sales, including 15 IKEA dressers, on concerns that they could topple over and crush children if not anchored to the wall with screws.
IKEA agreed to stop sales of substandard products from September 20.
The furniture giant launched its business in the suburban area of Seoul last year and promised to open five more stores in South Korea by 2020. IKEA has been loved by Korean people for its comparably affordable, sturdy, and great designs.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
