KEA, Regular Meeting with Participating Companies of Home Appliance Business Council

Photo by Korea Electronics Information and Communication Industry Promotion Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Industry Association (KEA) announced on the 22nd that it held a meeting on the 21st at the Korea Consumer Agency headquarters in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, with Lee Heesook, head of the Korea Consumer Agency, and executives from the customer service (CS) departments of eight home appliance business operators in the regular consultative body.

KEA stated that during the meeting, they reviewed the achievements of their activities to reduce fire accidents caused by aging home appliances and reaffirmed their commitment to future efforts. According to KEA, the regular consultative body of home appliance business operators was jointly launched with the Korea Consumer Agency in 2017 to ensure consumer safety. Eight companies, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK Magic, Otek Carrier, Winia Daewoo, Winia Dimchae, Cuchen, and Hurom, are currently active members.

The consultative body created the "Home Appliance Business Operators Regular Consultative Body Voluntary Safety Regulations" to prevent harm to consumers using home appliances and to strengthen their rights. They conducted six fire accident reduction activities targeting home appliances such as refrigerators, kimchi refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, televisions, and dish dryers. According to fire statistics from the National Fire Agency, fire accidents decreased by 10.8% last year compared to the previous year.

KEA and the participating companies in the consultative body have been closely monitoring the frequent fire accidents caused by poor installation and usage environments of home appliances or aging products due to long-term use. Recently, damages have expanded, including fatal accidents. In response, they have been continuously promoting safety precautions to consumers by producing and distributing safety guidelines to prevent accidents.

In particular, last year, aiming to reduce fire accidents in six major home appliances, they conducted an air conditioner fire prevention safety inspection service in May. In November, four companies?Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Winia Daewoo, and Winia Dimchae?carried out a free inspection campaign for refrigerators and kimchi refrigerators owned by consumers with products over 10 years old. More than 280,000 safety inspections were conducted in total.

The participating companies in the regular consultative body plan to further strengthen the industry's voluntary market safety efforts and continue activities for mutual growth, such as supporting the enhancement of safety management capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises together with the Korea Consumer Agency.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.