Economic Group Requests "Fair Trade Commission to Provide Sufficient Review Opportunities"

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Major domestic economic organizations, including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have proposed to the Fair Trade Commission the need for institutional improvements to ensure the swift handling of cases, such as establishing a fast track (simplified procedure) for consumer damage relief.

On the 7th, the Fair Trade Commission held a meeting with related parties including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Construction Association, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and the Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Plant Association at the Korea Fair Trade Mediation Agency in Jung-gu, Seoul, to listen to on-site opinions regarding overall case handling practices.

The economic organizations suggested to the Fair Trade Commission that "when case handling is delayed, companies face increased workload to respond to investigations and suffer difficulties due to prolonged instability." They also added that measures such as establishing a fast track for disputes between parties and consumer damage relief cases, standardizing submission forms by type, and revitalizing dispute mediation should be prepared for prompt case handling.

They requested that during the investigation and deliberation process, to guarantee companies' right to defense, the preparation of a statement record during testimony be made mandatory and that access and copying be expanded. They also proposed providing sufficient opportunities for deliberation in complex cases. Furthermore, they conveyed the need to codify the right to legal counsel under the Subcontracting Act and to establish an online system that allows businesses to check and manage subcontracting penalty points themselves.

The Fair Trade Commission stated, "We will carefully review the proposed matters, promptly improve areas where work enhancement is needed, and actively strive to supplement the system." The Commission plans to actively seek improvement measures such as establishing a fast track and revitalizing dispute mediation through the Case Work Improvement Task Force (TF) formed in November last year.

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