South Korea: South Korea's standards agency hosted an international forum Tuesday to enhance the safety of products sold on online marketplaces, amid the growing volume of direct overseas purchases. Experts from consumer-related organizations in five countries discussed ways to improve product safety on online platforms by expanding regional ties in the Asia-Pacific.According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards emphasized the increasing concerns about the safety of products sold online, noting that some products fail to comply with safety standards. The agency underscored the importance of consumer participation in the establishment of safety regulations to address these concerns.The agency cited a report by Statista, a private market and consumer data provider, which highlighted the significant growth in the volume of direct overseas purchases made by global consumers. The report indicated that this volume reached US$780 billion in 2021 and is projected to soar to $7.9 t rillion by 2030.Jin Jong-wook, head of the standards agency, announced plans to create a platform that will enable consumers to engage more actively in the process of setting safety policies, thereby playing a more significant role as key stakeholders in ensuring product safety.