Improving Contract Signing Practices Between Open Market and Store Sellers

Contract Termination: Reason Notice 15 Days Before Scheduled Date
Second Half: Establishment of 'Open Market Autonomous Dispute Mediation Council'
Measures for Small Business Coexistence and Burden Relief Proposed

From now on, open market operators must notify the reasons for contract termination with tenant sellers at least 15 days before the scheduled termination date. To change important contract terms for tenant sellers, such as usage fees, commissions, and advertising costs, they must notify at least 30 days (14 days for advertising cost changes) before the scheduled contract change date. To resolve disputes quickly and fairly, the 'Open Market Autonomous Dispute Mediation Council (tentative name)' will also be established in the second half of the year.

Open market operators have also presented measures for coexistence and burden relief with tenant sellers. Kakao will freeze its commission policy within the year and expand preferential commission policies for small business owners. Coupang will promote an advance payment service for small business owners.

The private platform autonomous organization announced the 'Open Market Sector Autonomous Regulation Plan' based on these contents on the 11th. Open market operators include Naver, Kakao, Coupang, Gmarket, 11st, Interpark, Wemakeprice, Tmon, Musinsa, and Lotteon.

Prior Notice of Open Market Tenant Contract Termination and Changes

Open market operators must prepare contracts and terms and conditions that include 'common contract clauses' when concluding tenant contracts with tenant sellers and provide them in written electronic document form. The tenant terms must include specific details such as the contract period, the content and scope of the telecommunication sales brokerage services provided, reasons and procedures for contract changes and terminations, and compensation for damages. It also includes a provision that, in case of disputes between tenant sellers and consumers related to product cancellations, refunds, etc., during the operation of telecommunication sales brokerage services, the open market operator will actively cooperate to reach an agreement, considering relevant laws and consumer dispute resolution standards.

If an open market operator intends to terminate a tenant contract with a tenant seller, they must notify the specific reasons for termination at least 15 days before the scheduled termination date. However, if there are urgent reasons such as illegal activities or concerns about consumer harm that make prior notice 15 days before the termination date difficult, the notification period may be set differently. If the tenant contract is to be changed, the reasons for the change must be notified to the tenant seller at least 7 days before the scheduled change date.

The dispute handling procedures between open market operators and users will also be improved. Open market operators must respond to complaints raised by tenant sellers within 3 business days from the date of receipt. The composition and operation procedures of the 'Open Market Autonomous Dispute Mediation Council (tentative name)' must ensure objectivity and independence. Detailed plans regarding the establishment, composition, operation, and mediation procedures of the autonomous dispute mediation council will be prepared by the end of August, followed by pilot operation until the end of November before implementation.

In case of disputes between tenant sellers and consumers related to product cancellations, refunds, etc., open market operators will actively cooperate to reach an amicable agreement. This content is included as a 'common contract clause' when concluding tenant contracts.

Measures for Coexistence and Burden Relief with Tenant Sellers

Open market operators will also implement measures for coexistence and burden relief with tenant sellers. Kakao will expand its preferential commission policy for small business owners, which was previously applied only to credit card payment amounts, to include KakaoPay Money, shopping points, mobile payments, and bank transfers. The preferential policy mainly reduces the commission rate from 3.3% to between 0.53% and 1.63%. Channel message advertising fees for tenant companies with fewer than 10,000 channel friends will also be discounted by 75% per message.

Naver has established dedicated organizations for small business owner coexistence, such as the 'Small Brand Business Office' and the 'Project Kkot Secretariat,' to continuously discover and operate support and cooperation plans for small business owners. The 'Small Brand Business Office,' a dedicated organization for small brand growth and care, has newly established a 'Coexistence Hall' within the Naver Shopping category and will support advertising costs for small business owners using guaranteed delivery services from the second half of the year.

The 'Project Kkot' Secretariat operates brand growth programs and small brand launcher programs for small business owners. It has started supporting intellectual property (IP) establishment for promising small brands from this month.

Coupang will promote an advance payment service for small business owners within the year. Additionally, it will establish a 'Self-Regulation Coexistence Exhibition' banner within the Good Store category in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, the 'Platform Private Autonomous Organization' is a discussion body formed to prepare autonomous regulation plans in the platform market by the private sector itself, launched on August 19 last year. It consists of four subcommittees: Gap-Eul (supplier-buyer relations), consumers/users, data/AI, and innovation sharing/governance, each discussing autonomous regulation plans.

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