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ENGLISH

Consumer Dispute Resolution

If a consumer has been harmed when using services or purchasing goods, how can he or she go about redressing the problem?

If a problem occurs with a good purchased by a consumer, it can be resolved mainly through one of the following methods: ① direct settlement between the consumer and the business operator; ② conciliation, mediation, or mediation through a consumer protection agency and other outside party; ③ litigation.

The consumer may contact the business operator directly to notify it of the damage suffered and ask for compensation. When the consumer cannot directly settle the problem with the business operator, such as when the operator refuses to provide compensation or to acknowledge the consumer's complaint, the consumer can apply for damages at the local government’s consumer affairs center, Korea Consumer Agency, and consumer organizations or file for a trial of small claims or file an order for payment or civil conciliation or civil suit in a court of law to resolve the problem.

Online Shopping

Online Shopping in Daily Life

Recently, online shopping mall transactions, home shopping, and electronic payment have become an integral part of daily life, along with e-commerce and mail order transactions. Under such circumstances, there is now a pressing need to protect consumers’ rights by encouraging such transactions to be carried out fairly.

The 「Act on the Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, etc.」 was enacted to protect consumers’ rights and interests in e-commerce and mail order transactions by ensuring consumers’ right to withdraw from a subscription and cancel a contract concerning their purchase of goods and services and to regulate the businesses concerned.

This content sets forth information on the laws pertaining to online shopping and e-commerce, with the focus on such details as member subscription, door-to-door delivery, exchange, refund, return, consumer dispute, etc.

Agricultural/Livestock/Marine Product Consumers

The following document outlines various certification systems of which food product consumers should be aware, including the agricultural/livestock/marine product origin indication system, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, the geographic indication system, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and eco-friendly agricultural/marine product certification. Food information search methods such as the traceability system are also discussed.

In addition, various report/reward systems that reward individuals who report food products that are of low quality or in violation of the origin indication system, etc., methods of settlement of disputes over food products, and methods of damage compensation are examined.

Cosmetics

This document provides legal information on regulations related to safety standards for manufacturing cosmetics, examination of functional cosmetics, statement and marking requirements for cosmetics, precautions for marking and advertising, and dispute resolution methods arising from the distribution and sale of cosmetics

Consumer Safety Information

This content provides legal information on safety measures for goods or services used by consumers, measures to be taken by business operators concerning defective goods, and how consumers should be compensated for damage.