"More Than Half of Diet Medical Service Complaints Involve Korean Medicine Packages"

Annual Increase in Reported Related Damages
Refunds Denied Despite Side Effects Occurring

As the number of consumers using medical institutions for dieting has recently increased, related damages are also continuously rising, requiring caution.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency on the 22nd, a total of 203 applications for damage relief related to diet medical services were received from January 2021 to June 2024, showing an increasing trend every year. The number rose from 17 cases in 2021 to 44 cases in 2022, and reached 85 cases in 2023. Especially this year, 57 cases were received in the first half alone, a 50% increase compared to the same period last year (38 cases).

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Analyzing the damage relief applications, the 'Hanbang package' accounted for the largest portion at 54.2% (110 cases). The Hanbang package refers to a package that includes herbal medicine and weight management programs for detoxification and weight loss. Following the Hanbang package were fat-dissolving injection packages at 35.9% (73 cases) and liposuction at 9.9% (20 cases). By reason for application, side effects were the most common at 40.9% (83 cases), followed by contract-related damages at 39.9% (81 cases), and insufficient effectiveness at 15.8% (32 cases).

Detailed analysis of side effect-related damages showed that for the Hanbang package, gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and nausea caused by taking herbal medicine were the most frequent at 23.4% (11 cases). Skin reactions and palpitations accounted for 10.6% (5 cases), and elevated liver enzymes, worsened condition, and headaches each accounted for 8.5% (4 cases). Other side effects reported included insomnia and menstrual irregularities. For the fat-dissolving injection package, symptoms related to the injection site were most common, with skin reactions such as hives and bruising at 34.6% (9 cases), injection site pain at 30.8% (8 cases), and gastrointestinal symptoms at 15.4% (4 cases). Side effects of liposuction included depression and asymmetry of the surgical site and inflammatory reactions.

Some medical institutions considered side effects as simple change of mind and refused refunds, or even if refunds were made, deducted treatment costs based on the pre-discount price rather than the payment amount, causing disputes. Cases of excessive deductions for gifts or procedure costs provided as services upon contract termination were also confirmed.

The Korea Consumer Agency urged that to prevent damages related to diet medical services, consumers should request detailed explanations about the effects and side effects of procedures or treatments before contracting, and proceed with package contracts only after undergoing short-term treatment. They also emphasized the importance of checking refund policies before contracting and making careful decisions, as well as confirming the individual costs of the services provided.

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