The Korea Consumer Agency and the Fair Trade Commission announced on the 19th that a consumer damage warning has been issued for airline tickets, parcel delivery, and health supplements, which are expected to see an increase in damage cases during the Lunar New Year holiday.
The consumer agency and Fair Trade Commission noted, "Airline tickets, parcel delivery, and health supplements are items that see an increase in consumer purchases and usage before and after the holiday, leading to persistent damages; therefore, consumers need to exercise particular caution."
According to the consumer agency, out of the damage redress cases reported from February 2022 to February 2024, cases related to airline tickets accounted for the largest number with 728 instances. Health supplements recorded 166 cases, and parcel delivery had 164. The proportion for the airline tickets was 13.6%, for parcel delivery 17.1%, and for health supplements 17% out of the annual figures.
In the case of airline tickets, excessive cancellation fees are often imposed, and there are many reports of damage due to delays, cancellations, or damage to baggage. The consumer agency and Fair Trade Commission advised checking whether major disasters have occurred at the destination, understanding entry and exit policies, and thoroughly reviewing the cancellation fees and refund policies of each airline and travel agency.
With parcel delivery, cases of damage, destruction, and loss of transported items are frequent, and losses have occurred due to delivery delays and misdeliveries. The consumer agency urged, "Before the holiday, demand for parcel delivery surges, increasing the likelihood of incidents such as damage, loss, and delivery delays; therefore, allow ample time when requesting deliveries and keep the shipping label and purchase receipts as evidence."
Health supplements often feature deceptive practices such as free trials, followed by refusal to accept cancellations or imposing excessive cancellation fees. A representative from the consumer agency advised, "Be cautious of deceptive practices such as free trials, and if there is no intention to purchase or consume, request cancellation within the legal period," adding, "The cancellation period is 7 days for online shopping and TV home shopping, and 14 days for phone and door-to-door sales."
The consumer agency further explained, "Consumers who have suffered damages can seek consultation or apply for damage redress through the Consumer24 website or the 1372 Consumer Consultation Center."