Small-business groups have stepped to the forefront ahead of the BTS Gwanghwamun concert on the 21st to resolve unfair pricing issues that surface every peak season and during large-scale events and to establish a sound market order.
Four groups — the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME), the National Federation of Merchants, the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, and the Korea Hotel & Lodging Association — held a "campaign to eradicate unfair charges for establishing market transaction order and trusted K-tourism" on the 19th in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun.
The groups said in a joint statement that the small-business sector will take the lead in creating a trusted K-tourism environment. The small-business groups emphasized they would preemptively block unfair practices that may occur at some establishments during the event period, such as failing to display prices, excessive price hikes, and reselling after canceling reservations.
The groups also plan to actively pursue self-regulation to prevent the small-business sector, which operates honestly, from being blamed due to the misconduct of a few. They will thoroughly guide members on basic principles, including complying with price display requirements, adhering to posted prices, and providing courteous service, and will strengthen on-site guidance.
The groups also said they would actively cooperate with the government's "measures to eradicate price gouging." They further called on the government and local governments to move beyond enforcement-centered policies and strengthen on-site communication focused on prevention. The groups will also run a "fair pricing campaign" so that small businesses that have quietly maintained reasonable prices can be fairly recognized.
Song Chi-young, head of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME), said, "Unfair charges are only short-term gains and ultimately weaken the foundation for small businesses' survival," adding, "With this statement as a turning point, we will establish a business culture in which consumers and small businesses coexist and restore trust in commercial districts."