University years are the times of full bloom, with students being eager to dress up and adorn themselves. Yet, our pockets are just not that much full to satisfy such desires. For the of our desires, so-called “Road Shop Brands” are getting the limelight. Road Shop Brands are loved by many people, as they sell cosmetics, which were often regarded expensive, at a relatively cheaper price. Especially, ‘cheap price products’, or imitations of brand-name cosmetics are number one bestselling product at some of the Road Shops. However, have you ever thought about the problems behind the reasonable price of such ‘cheap price products’?
These ‘cheap price products’ can hinder the development of relevant in the long run. Many brand-name cosmetic companies put a lot of money and effort into developing new products, in pursuit of being ‘the latest’. However, it can be often seen that products that are similar to those that were released after years of effort by brand-name cosmetic companies being sold at cheaper price with similar functions and designs. These not only bring tremendous financial damage to brand-name cosmetic companies, but also make them lose their willingness to develop new items. This can hamper the growth of cosmetic industry in Korea in the long run.
Another problem is that the social atmosphere that regards copying as not so much of a big deal. Just take a look at the fact that those copied products being called ‘cheap price products’. Unlike in the past when copied products were called imitations, the term ‘cheap price products’-or ‘jeoryeomee’ in Korean-are used more often recently. The term ‘cheap price product’ sounds more like an alternative rather than an imitation, which proves how the problem of copying is being justified unconsciously. This can weaken the awareness against copying in our society, and can give a wrong idea that copying is not a big deal. As can be seen from the actions for infringement of patent between Samsung and Apple, copying is regarded a serious problem internationally. Yet, for some reason copying is handled more generously in Korea than in any other nations. Fast actions will be needed to stop this social atmosphere.
Being able to buy ‘cheap price products’ that is similar in quality with the brand-name products may sound like a tempting deal. Yet, as a part of our society, we will need to recognize the difference between what is more tempting and what is more righteous, and reject what can harm our society in the long run.
황지원 기자
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