Refund Not Allowed After Opening Packaging?…Fair Trade Commission Orders Corrective Measures for Shinsegae and Woori Home Shopping

Sticker attached to the product box and the original sticker.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Fair Trade Commission announced on the 5th that it has decided to issue corrective orders and impose a fine of 2.5 million won on Shinsegae and Woori Home Shopping for obstructing consumers' withdrawal of subscription by notifying that returns are not possible once the product packaging is opened.

According to the Fair Trade Commission, Shinsegae attached a sticker stating "Exchanges and refunds are not possible if the box/packaging is opened after purchasing the product" while selling products through 11st from April 20, 2017, to June 30, 2017.

Woori Home Shopping also notified on the product detail pages that "Returns are not possible if the product packaging (box) is opened or removed" while selling products through Gmarket and Lotte Home Shopping malls from February 13, 2018, to April 17, 2019.

Article 17, Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 1 of the law stipulates that if the packaging is damaged to check the contents of goods, it is excluded from the exceptions to withdrawal of subscription. Accordingly, the Fair Trade Commission viewed the act of notifying that withdrawal of subscription is impossible despite not falling under the restriction reasons as an act of providing false information and obstructing consumers' withdrawal of subscription.

A Fair Trade Commission official said, "This measure will clarify that returns are possible if the product value does not decline even when the packaging is opened in the online market, contributing to the protection of consumers' legitimate right to withdraw subscription," and added, "We will continue to monitor unfair acts obstructing withdrawal of subscription in the online market and take strict action if violations are detected."

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