Gyeonggi-do Reports Recent Increase in Consumer Complaints Regarding Accommodation Facilities

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is stepping up to resolve consumer damages related to accommodation facilities, which tend to concentrate during the summer vacation season, such as refusal to refund deposits.

Gyeonggi Province explained that consumer consultations related to accommodation facilities received by the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center have been increasing monthly, with 224 cases in May, 276 cases in June, and 174 cases as of July 15.

The province stated that recently, as the use of online accommodation brokerage services has become widespread and full payment is made at the time of booking, consumer disputes related to cancellation penalties have increased when contracts are canceled due to sudden circumstances.

According to the Consumer Dispute Resolution Standards of the Korea Fair Trade Commission, accommodation facilities set cancellation penalties differently for peak and off-peak seasons, as well as weekends and weekdays. In the off-peak season, cancellation penalties of 10-30% are imposed only if canceled one day before or on the day of the reservation, while in the peak season, penalties ranging from 10% to 90% are imposed depending on the period from seven days before to the day of cancellation.

Furthermore, if relocation from the accommodation area or use of the accommodation facility is impossible due to climate change or natural disasters, a refund of the deposit can be requested. Also, if administrative orders such as facility closure or disaster area declaration are issued due to a first-class infectious disease as defined by the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, a refund of the deposit or a 50% reduction in cancellation penalties can be received.

Gyeonggi residents who have suffered damages from accommodation contracts can apply for voluntary adjustment by submitting a voluntary adjustment application form along with accommodation contract-related documents and proof documents to the Gyeonggi Consumer Information Center via email (ggconsumer@gg.go.kr). However, if the reservation was made through overseas accommodation booking sites or facilities rather than domestic accommodation brokerage services or facilities, applications must be submitted to the International Transaction Consumer Portal (crossborder.kca.go.kr).

Through voluntary adjustment, opportunities for mediation or agreement between consumers and businesses are provided, and if mediation fails, Gyeonggi Province will directly support the application for dispute mediation to the Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee.

Application forms can be downloaded from the notice section on the Gyeonggi Consumer Information Center website.

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