FTC Imposes 40 Million Won Fine on Bodyfriend for Violating Written Document Issuance Obligation

by Oh Yukyo

Published 29 Apr.2026 12:00(KST)

The Fair Trade Commission announced on the 29th that it has decided to impose a corrective order and a fine of 40 million won on Bodyfriend for failing to properly fulfill its obligation to issue written documents in subcontracting agreements.

Bodyfriend Compact Healthcare Robot Falcon2026. The Asia Business Daily DB.

According to the commission, from May 2021 to June 2024, Bodyfriend entered into a total of 58 subcontracting contracts with four suppliers for the manufacturing of products such as bed-type massage chairs and water purifiers. During this process, it was found that the required signatures or personal seals of both parties were missing, or the delivery deadlines for the goods were omitted from the documents issued, which are essential requirements for such contracts.

A detailed look at the violations reveals that out of the 58 contracts, 41 lacked signatures or seals, 8 omitted delivery deadlines, and the remaining 9 were missing both signatures/seals and delivery deadlines when the documents were issued. This constitutes a direct violation of Article 3 of the Subcontracting Act, which stipulates that a written document containing essential contract details must be issued to the supplier before the commencement of work.

This measure is significant in that it compels primary contractors to strictly adhere to their obligation to issue proper documents, thereby preventing potential disadvantages to suppliers caused by unclear contract terms and helping to avoid future disputes.

The Fair Trade Commission stated, "We will continue to monitor violations of the obligation to issue written documents in order to improve unfair subcontracting practices and protect the rights and interests of suppliers," adding, "If any illegal acts are detected, we will take strict action in accordance with the law and established principles."