# Three Screws Removed, “Black Mold” Found… Hygiene Gaps in Ice Water Purifiers

> URL: https://www.cityhorror.wiki/en/%EB%82%98%EC%82%AC-%EC%84%B8-%EA%B0%9C%EB%A5%BC-%ED%92%80%EA%B8%B0-%EC%A0%84%EC%97%94-%EC%96%BC%EC%9D%8C%EC%A0%95%EC%88%98%EA%B8%B0-%EC%86%8D%EC%9D%B4-%EB%B3%B4%EC%9D%B4%EC%A7%80-%EC%95%8A%EC%95%98%EB%8B%A4
> Estimated date: Jul 2026
> Last updated: 2026-10-28
> Korean original: https://www.cityhorror.wiki/%EB%82%98%EC%82%AC-%EC%84%B8-%EA%B0%9C%EB%A5%BC-%ED%92%80%EA%B8%B0-%EC%A0%84%EC%97%94-%EC%96%BC%EC%9D%8C%EC%A0%95%EC%88%98%EA%B8%B0-%EC%86%8D%EC%9D%B4-%EB%B3%B4%EC%9D%B4%EC%A7%80-%EC%95%8A%EC%95%98%EB%8B%A4

## Overview

The controversy over mold began in the summer of 2026, when a consumer posted photos on social media after taking apart an ice-water purifier. Behind the purifier’s front touch screen and three screws near the ice dispenser was a section covered in black mold. As the post spread, others began sharing similar experiences.

At the center of the controversy is the scope of routine maintenance visits. According to the consumer, the technician’s cleaning manual covered washing and replacing parts such as the ice bin and auger inside the cover of the upper ice-storage compartment, but did not include the area where the mold was found. This led to complaints that mold had been present despite regular maintenance, and to broader discussion about the scope of service and the possibility of terminating contracts.

## Mold Behind Three Screws

According to a post shared on FM Korea, the consumer (hereafter “Mr. A”) had continued using the same ice-water purifier for 35 months, even after the rental period ended, following the coordinator who handled the account to a new company. After seeing a Threads post about mold in an ice-water purifier the previous day, Mr. A became concerned about his own unit and decided to check it. He immediately requested emergency after-sales service. When the technician who visited disassembled the purifier, Mr. A said, black mold had spread across the internal components and walls. After seeing its condition, Mr. A terminated the contract.

The issue Mr. A raised was the mismatch between the cleaning manual and the location of the mold. In a subsequent phone call, the coordinator explained that during maintenance visits, the purifier’s outer cover was removed, and the cover of the upper ice-storage compartment was taken out so that the ice bin and auger inside could be cleaned and periodically replaced. By contrast, the area the technician opened that day could only be accessed by removing the touch screen (front panel) and unscrewing three screws near the ice dispenser at the front. Mr. A called the company’s headquarters to say that the cleaning manual appeared to need revision, and urged acquaintances who used the same purifier to check theirs as well. The post also included the phrase, “Regardless of the company, they all do it the same way…,” but the rest could not be confirmed because the screenshot was cut off.

Mr. A also voiced dissatisfaction with how the product had been described. He said he had been told at the time of signing the contract that it was “all stainless steel,” but that only the part where the ice freezes was stainless steel, while the storage bin was plastic. He said the technician told him that another customer had complained for the same reason a few weeks earlier, but this is only what the technician reportedly told Mr. A and has not been independently confirmed.

## Experiences Spread

Mr. A’s post spread rapidly across Threads, social media, and online communities. In the screenshot shared on FM Korea, Mr. A’s original post had 627 likes, 355 comments, and 1,000 shares. The same screenshot also showed a post from another user (hereafter “Mr. B”), who had recently had a purifier installed and wrote, “In the end, I opened Pandora’s box too.” The technician told Mr. B that the side panel of his purifier was clean, but when Mr. B asked whether it would be fine to use the unit only as a hot-and-cold water purifier without making ice, the technician replied that avoiding mold was difficult. According to Mr. B, the technician explained that even with a direct-water supply line, coolant inside the unit prevents the line from freezing, inevitably creating temperature differences and, as a result, condensation and mold. Mr. B also said that the technician admitted to using the unit while “looking the other way,” and wrote that he had decided to terminate the contract for now.

Media reports also collected similar cases. Consumer Times reported that since the previous month, accounts of black substances appearing in ice-making sections, ice-storage compartments, and ice outlets had spread across social media and online communities. One consumer who said they had used an ice-water purifier for three years wrote that, despite replacing the filter every four months and the faucet and ice bin every six months, receiving a full cleaning service, and emptying and refilling the ice at least once a week, mold was visible near the outlet. Another consumer said that mold was densely stuck to the ice-making section and storage compartment. A consumer who had used an ice-water purifier since September 2024 said the maintenance technician had called it “an unavoidable phenomenon,” and that they had decided to exchange the product.

This was not the first time such complaints had surfaced. According to Consumer Times, hygiene concerns about the insides of ice-water purifiers had repeatedly been raised on online communities during the summer in previous years. In 2023, a post on an online forum said that an after-sales technician had seen mold, said it was fine, and wiped it with a damp paper towel. The post also said that people who replaced filters could not take apart the parts where mold formed.

## Media Coverage and Contract Termination Issues

In an article published on July 30, Donghaeng Ilbo reported that the mold Mr. A found was in an area not covered by the cleaning manual for routine maintenance visits. The article noted that such areas are outside the scope of typical disassembly and cleaning, meaning that even internal sections consumers cannot easily inspect may not be checked. The following day, Comedy.com published an article titled “ ‘Mold Again, Even After Sanitization?’… Why Do Ice-Water Purifier Hygiene Controversies Keep Recurring?” On August 6, MBN reported that accounts of mold being found inside purifiers despite routine care services continued to come in, and noted that some consumers had exchanged their products or terminated their contracts after the same problem recurred following after-sales service. It also cited concerns that differences in maintenance coverage and inspection items from one product to another created a gap between consumer expectations and the actual service provided.

The controversy soon shifted to penalty fees. On August 25, SBS addressed the issue in the “Incident Why” segment of *News Hunters*, highlighting that it was difficult to terminate a contract without paying a penalty even when the purifier was moldy, as some argued that mold was a structural problem with ice-water purifiers that make and store ice. Two lawyers appeared as guests on the program. In the title of a YouTube video, the SBS *News Hunters* channel urged viewers to “check right away” and called the issue a “moldy ice-water purifier crisis causing an uproar.” Consumer Times also noted that in a survey of home-appliance subscription and rental services published by the Korea Consumer Agency in April of that year, 58.2% of applications for consumer redress concerned water purifiers, and 34.6% concerned product quality or after-sales service.

## Manufacturer and Industry Responses

Manufacturers emphasized that they were strengthening hygiene management. According to Consumer Times, Kyowon Wells supplies water directly and uses stainless steel in the ice-making section, and has installed six UV-C LED sterilization modules in areas including the water faucet, ice room, and ice outlet. Wells managers visit every three to six months to sterilize and clean the interior and exterior. LG Electronics has installed a heating system in the front section and the upper part of the ice-storage compartment to reduce temperature differences inside and outside the unit, and has reinforced its insulation. The internal stainless-steel direct-water supply line is automatically sterilized at high temperature once a week, and subscription customers receive disassembly inspections of the ice outlet every three to six months.

Coway sends service specialists every two to four months, depending on the product, to remove and clean the ice tray and storage compartment. It also offers an “安心Photo Service,” which sends customers photos of the interior after maintenance. Recent models reportedly include automatic UV sterilization and a removable, washable cover for the ice outlet. Chungho Nais checks and cleans the water tank, ice-storage compartment, faucet, and ice outlet during visits, which take place every two or four months depending on the product. The company says that when a hygiene issue arises, it determines whether a penalty can be waived under consumer dispute resolution standards and its own terms and conditions if the issue constitutes grounds for cancellation—for example, if a product defect or maintenance problem is confirmed and the issue recurs even after corrective action. Consumer Times noted that the challenge for manufacturers is not just to add sterilization features, but to verify how effectively they manage contamination in ice-making sections and storage compartments under actual conditions of use.

## Authenticity debate

The central question is whether mold inside ice-water purifiers stems from shortcomings in companies’ maintenance coverage and disclosure obligations, or whether it is an unavoidable consequence of the products’ characteristics as appliances that handle water and ice in a low-temperature environment.

### The view that companies are responsible for maintenance and disclosure

Those taking this view argue that the fact that mold appeared despite routine maintenance itself reveals a gap in the maintenance system. For the purifier Mr. A had used for 35 months, the coordinator’s cleaning manual only covered the inside of the upper ice-storage compartment, while the area behind the three screws was difficult for consumers to check themselves. This is consistent with the account of a consumer who said that, despite using a purifier for three years, regularly replacing its filter, faucet, and ice bin, and receiving cleaning services, they saw mold near the outlet.

Past cases also support this argument. In 2023, a post on an online forum said that a technician had seen mold and wiped it with a damp paper towel, while workers who replaced filters were unable to take apart the relevant components. If the issue has been raised repeatedly every summer, it is difficult to view this incident as an isolated case of bad luck. If Mr. A’s account of being told the purifier was “all stainless steel” when it was actually made of different materials is accurate, that would also raise concerns about inadequate disclosures at the time of signing the contract. Combined with SBS’s report that it can be difficult to terminate a contract without paying a penalty even when a purifier is moldy, this has led to the argument that the problem extends beyond maintenance to the cancellation process as well.

### The view that condensation is unavoidable given the product’s characteristics

The opposing view argues that this is a phenomenon arising from the product’s design rather than a failure by the companies. In a written interview with Consumer Times, Naomiichi Yamamoto, a professor at the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health, explained that the temperature difference between a cold water purifier and the warmer surrounding air can create conditions conducive to condensation, and that it is difficult to completely eliminate condensation, moisture, and other environments in which microorganisms can grow. This is consistent with the technician’s reported explanation to Mr. B: even with a direct-water supply line, coolant creates temperature differences that make condensation and mold difficult to avoid. A worker in the water-purifier maintenance industry also said that purifiers placed in poorly ventilated spaces require particular attention to internal cleaning, and that products should receive separate maintenance after their rental contracts end.

From this perspective, it also matters that manufacturers have already begun responding. Manufacturers have said they are reducing condensation by adding heating systems and reinforcing insulation, while expanding UV sterilization, automatic high-temperature sterilization, and disassembly inspections. An expert also emphasized that microorganisms multiply exponentially, making it important to remove them before they become visible. In addition, as Consumer Times described the cases as involving “black substances suspected to be mold,” it is possible to argue that it is too early to generalize from unverified cases when no test results identifying the substances were mentioned in the articles.

The two positions assign different weight to responsibility for the same phenomenon, and the issue remains unresolved. Even if the explanation that condensation is unavoidable given the product’s design is correct, it does not rule out the argument that consumers should have been informed and inspection coverage expanded. Conversely, even if companies strengthen maintenance, the effectiveness of those measures has yet to be verified. The available information does not establish how widespread the cases are, what the mold actually is, or how criteria for waiving penalty fees are applied.

## Trivia

- After terminating the contract, Mr. A wrote, “I’ve suddenly become a water-purifier nomad,” while Mr. B added, “I’ll block comments recommending Amway” to a post announcing the cancellation.
- A photo of water-purifier maintenance included in a Consumer Times article is labeled as an AI-generated image.

## Sources

- FM Korea post, [“Ice-water purifier mold issue causing an uproar on Threads”](https://m.fmkorea.com/best/10150687582)
- Donghaeng Ilbo, [“Three Screws, and Inside Was ‘Black Mold’… A Hygiene Blind Spot in Ice-Water Purifiers”](https://www.dhilbo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1452) (2026-07-30)
- SBS, [“[Incident Why] ‘Covered in Mold’ Ice-Water Purifiers… After We Asked to Terminate the Contract”](https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1008721466&plink=ORI&cooper=NAVER) (2026-08-25)
- Comedy.com, [“ ‘Mold Again, Even After Sanitization?’… Why Do Ice-Water Purifier Hygiene Controversies Keep Recurring?”](https://kormedi.com/?p=2840484) (2026-07-31)
- Consumer Times, [“Ice-Water Purifier Hygiene Controversies Keep Recurring… Industry Strengthens Condensation and Sterilization Management”](https://www.cstimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=718724) (2026-09-01)
- MBN, [“Growing Interest in Ice-Water Purifier Hygiene… Scope of Routine Maintenance Also Under Scrutiny”](http://mbn.mk.co.kr/pages/news/newsView.php?category=mbn00014&news_seq_no=5210760) (2026-08-06)
- YouTube, *News Hunters*, [“ ‘Check Right Away!’… Moldy Ice-Water Purifier Crisis Causing an Uproar / Incident …”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmPpzqOxt7o&xstg=CAMSBhUDzO3xHw%3D%3D)

## Verified facts

- In summer 2026, consumers posted reports on social media (Threads and X) and online communities saying they had found black material resembling mold inside ice water purifiers. The FM Korea post, Donghaeng Ilbo, Maeil Business TV, Consumer Times, and SBS covered the reports.
- A consumer, A (X account: naraleeee), disassembled a water purifier, found mold, and terminated the contract. Both the FM Korea post and Donghaeng Ilbo reported this.
- The mold was found in an area visible only after removing the touchscreen (front panel) and undoing three screws near the ice dispenser. The cleaning procedure for regular technician visits (coordinator service) involves opening the top cover and cleaning or replacing the ice storage bin, auger, and other parts, and does not cover this area. The FM Korea post and Donghaeng Ilbo reported the same information.
- A told the manufacturer’s headquarters that the cleaning manual appeared to need revision and urged consumers with the same type of ice water purifier to check theirs, regardless of manufacturer. Both the FM Korea post and Donghaeng Ilbo reported this.
- Reports continued of mold being found even after regular care or maintenance services, and some consumers exchanged their products or terminated their contracts. This was covered in the headline of a Comedy.com article and by Maeil Business TV and Consumer Times.
- The water purifier industry is strengthening UV sterilization, automatic sterilization, condensation-prevention designs, and regular maintenance visits. Maeil Business TV and Consumer Times reported the same measures.
- Condensation and moisture caused by the temperature difference between the cold interior of an ice water purifier and the surrounding air were cited as causes of mold. This was mentioned in a consumer post quoted in the FM Korea post and in an expert explanation by Consumer Times. Maeil Business TV also noted that ice water purifiers maintain a low-temperature environment.
- Concerns were raised that consumers may find it difficult to terminate contracts without a penalty because of mold. SBS covered the issue, and Consumer Times reported that manufacturers determine whether to waive penalties under consumer dispute resolution standards and rental agreements.
- SBS covered the issue in its “Incident Why” segment. A YouTube video by SBS News Hunters featured it under the title “Check Yours Now: The Moldy Ice Water Purifier Scandal Causing an Uproar.”

## Points of dispute

- A consumer post included in the FM Korea post says a service technician said condensation and mold caused by temperature differences were unavoidable because of the cooling water, even with a direct-water system. Manufacturers, however, say they are strengthening hygiene management through condensation-prevention designs and automatic sterilization (Consumer Times, Maeil Business TV).
- Consumer Times wrote as though the controversy had spread since last month (August), while Donghaeng Ilbo had already reported a related case on July 30. The reported starting point differs slightly, ranging from late July to early August.
- Donghaeng Ilbo wrote that A said they had found mold on Threads, whereas the FM Korea post appears to show a screenshot of an X (formerly Twitter) post and mentions Threads as the platform where the post that prompted it appeared. The platforms are identified differently.