Consumer Dispute Mediation Meetings Now Also Held Online

Fair Trade Commission Announces Legislative Notice for Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Consumer Basic Act

On the 14th, a forum titled "Exploring Strengthening Consumer Dispute Resolution Standards" hosted by Representative Jeyoon Kyung of the Democratic Party of Korea was held at the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

The system will be improved to allow the Korea Consumer Agency and various consumer organizations to hold dispute mediation meetings for resolving consumer disputes not only offline but also online.

On the 4th, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it will publicly notify the draft amendment to the "Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Consumers" containing this content until the 15th of next month.

The amendment stipulates the procedures and methods for conducting fact-finding surveys to establish consumer policies. It defines the scope of the fact-finding surveys, including matters related to goods and service transactions and consumer damages, and adds that the survey plan must be notified in advance to the survey subjects. It also stipulates that the Fair Trade Commission may entrust fact-finding survey tasks to the Korea Consumer Agency and others.

In response to the increasing demand for consumer dispute mediation, a legal basis for online dispute mediation meetings has also been established. Currently, dispute mediation meetings are conducted only through in-person attendance (offline), which has limited the prompt handling of dispute mediation cases. By allowing mediators and others to attend meetings online, the consumer dispute mediation system can be operated more efficiently and swiftly.

A delegation clause for the "Guidelines for the Operation of Consumer Life Centers of Metropolitan Local Governments" has also been added. Although detailed matters necessary for the systematic operation of Consumer Life Centers are stipulated, there has been a lack of direct delegation provisions in the higher laws, so a legal basis for this has been established.

The Fair Trade Commission expressed expectations that "through this amendment, by preparing specific details for fact-finding surveys, effective consumer policies will be established, and by introducing online methods for consumer dispute mediation meetings, the convenience of meeting participants and the efficiency of the dispute mediation system can be enhanced."

The Fair Trade Commission plans to complete related legislative procedures such as review by the Ministry of Government Legislation after collecting opinions from stakeholders and related ministries during the public notice period.

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