by STEVE HAN | @steve_han
editor@charactermedia.com
If you’re thinking of selling selfie sticks in South Korea any time soon, beware. You may end up paying up to $27,000 in fine or face up to three years in prison (yes, prison) for selling unapproved selfie sticks, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Those who sell unapproved selfie sticks will face a maximum fine of $27,000 or will be sentenced for up to three years in jail, the South Korean government said on Friday. A selfie stick is a smartphone accessory which a user could slide his/her phone into the end of it. The equipment has gone viral over the last year or so as people are flocking to tourist destinations around the world, wielding their selfie sticks to find the perfect angle for a picture of him/herself. With most selfie sticks, pictures are taken with a Bluetooth remote on its grip.
South Korea’s science ministry said that devices containing Bluetooth functionality must be tested and obtain certification before such products become available for commercial distribution. The certification process was created to prevent devices that release excessive amounts of electromagnetic radiation, the ministry explained.
Although electromagnetic radiation doesn’t pose health-related threats to people, it can interfere with surrounding electronic devices, according to the ministry.
South Koreans are encouraged to report merchants who sell unapproved selfie sticks by calling a phone number added in the recently released statement by the ministry.
Selfie sticks originated from the extreme sports community, as sky-divers and base jumpers began using the accessory to take pictures of their active lifestyles. The trend has since made its way to average people with an incessant desire to taking higher quality photos of themselves.
Photo courtesy of Seeit.kr
