Following consecutive 'Kickrani' accidents... Fair Trade Commission to enforce mandatory 'User Duty of Care' notices

Electric Kickboard Accidents Surge from 84 Cases in 2016 to 483 Cases by October 2020
Plans to Implement User Duty of Care Notices and Safety Education Next Year

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[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Fair Trade Commission is pushing for a measure that requires kickboard rental companies to mandatorily post user precautions. The aim is to strengthen the safety management responsibilities of kickboard rental companies to reduce accidents.

On the 18th, a Fair Trade Commission official stated, "As part of next year’s work plan, we intend to establish safety measures such as 'user duty of care notices' and safety education for kickboard operators," adding, "We also plan to discuss additional safety measures together with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the National Police Agency."

The Fair Trade Commission is strengthening the safety management obligations of kickboard rental companies due to the recent surge in accidents. Last month, at Myongji University Natural Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a fatal accident occurred when Mr. A fell while riding an electric kickboard. According to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System of the Korea Consumer Agency, electric kickboard accidents have steadily increased from 84 cases in 2016 to 195 in 2017, 229 in 2018, and 257 in 2019. Notably, the number of accidents reported up to October this year reached 483. Furthermore, with the revision of the Road Traffic Act, starting from the 10th of next month, individuals aged 13 and older will be allowed to use electric kickboards on bicycle paths without a license. This increases the likelihood of accidents.

In response, the Fair Trade Commission plans to include the kickboard user duty of care in the scope of 'important information display and advertising' under the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Products and Services. In this case, kickboard rental companies must notify users of safety rules or display them in a way that users can directly confirm. Violations may result in fines of up to 100 million KRW. Additionally, the Fair Trade Commission plans to promote mandatory safety education before riding through consultations with rental companies.

Previously, the Fair Trade Commission corrected unfair terms in the contracts of five domestic and international electric kickboard sharing service providers. The main point is to strengthen the operator’s responsibility. According to the contract corrections, operators must take responsibility under civil law if intentional or negligent fault is recognized for damages to members, regardless of the degree of negligence. Previously, operators either bore no responsibility for injuries or damages or only took responsibility in cases of gross negligence. The scope of liability for compensation has also been expanded. Before the correction, kickboard rental companies were liable only up to the limit set by the company or within 100,000 KRW. Now, they must bear responsibility for damages exceeding this amount according to civil law and related regulations.

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