South Korea’s antitrust watchdog said Thursday that it has fined seven shoe importers and local brands a combined 1.07 billion won ($1.02 million) for exaggerating the health benefits of their products in their ads.

The Fair Trade Commission also issued correction orders to the makers of three foreign brands ― Reebok, Fitflop and New Balance.

Importers of these three brands, along with Skechers and local brands Fila, Lecaf and Ellesse, were ordered to pay fines. Two others ― Asics and Prospecs ― were given correction orders without fines.

The shoemakers were accused of exaggerating the positive health effects of their footwear, according to the fair trade watchdog.

They issued ads and commercials claiming that by just walking their shoes, consumers can trim their bodies, burn more calories and keep their bodies in better shape.

The watchdog said that such claims could not be proven without objective experimental data, which the firms lacked. (Yonhap)