Effective measures for consumer safety can be taken through the collection and processing of risk information.
Collection of risk information
- To support consumer safety policies, the Korea Consumer Agency operates a consumer safety center that collects risk information. (Articles 51(1) and 52(1), 「Framework Act on Consumers」)
※ Risk information Submission Agency
- When it is necessary for the Consumer Safety Center to collect risk information, the Fair Trade Commission may designate administrative agencies, hospitals, schools, consumer groups, etc. as risk information submission agencies in order to facilitate the collection of risk information. (Article 52(6), 「Framework Act on Consumers」)
- The Consumer Safety Center collects risk information from the risk information submission agencies across the country, including hospitals and fire stations.
Analysis of risk information and implementation of measures according to the results
- Where deemed necessary, the following measures are taken according to the results of analysis of the risk information collected by the Consumer Safety Center. (Article 52(2), 「Framework Act on Consumers」)
1. Issuance of consumer safety alerts for the prevention of risks and accidents.
2. Publication of facts and information pertaining to the safety of goods or services (including facilities; hereinafter referred to as "goods, etc.").
3. Recommendation of corrective measures to business operators that provide hazardous goods, etc.
4. Proposal of corrective measures and system improvements to the State or local governments.
5. Other measures necessary to ensure consumer safety.
- The President of the Korea Consumer Agency (hereinafter referred to as the "President") may request a business operator who has received a correction recommendation pursuant to the foregoing item 3 to submit whether to accept the recommendation ofcorrective measures and the results of their decision including the following matters, and the business operator shall comply with this requestunless there is a special reason for not doing so. (Article 52(3), 「Framework Act on Consumers」).
· Implementation and results according to the recommendation of corrective measures
· Action plan for dealing with items that fail to comply with the recommendations
· Measures to prevent the recurrence of harm
- Where it is judged that goods etc. cause or are likely to cause harm to the life, body or property of consumers, and the business operator fails to comply with the recommended corrective measurespursuant to the foregoing item 3, the President may suggest that the Fair Trade Commission issue a request for correction. (Article 52(4), 「Framework Act on Consumers」)
- A person entrusted with the collection and processing of risk information shall not disclose to a third party any details about a business operator’s name, product name, degree of damage, and incident history until the risk of the product has been identified and publicized. (Article 52(5), 「Framework Act on Consumers」)
※ Details on the risk information system and the reporting of risk information can be viewed at the <Korea Consumer Agency Consumer Risk Monitoring System>.