The Korea Consumer Agency warned that there have been a series of excessive treatment cases inducing high-priced cosmetic or vision correction procedures, claiming to offer discount events for high school seniors who took the college entrance exam and re-examine students.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency, a resident of Haeundae District in Busan, identified as A, recently visited a well-known dermatology clinic claiming to offer a 20-30% discount event for exam-takers with her 3rd-year high school daughter. The clinic diagnosed that receiving five cosmetic procedures would be advisable, and A paid an expense of 4.2 million won.
A hesitated, thinking it was an expensive service, but her daughter said, “I will contribute money,” and, tearfully, A felt compelled to open her wallet.
However, after receiving two procedures, her daughter's skin condition actually worsened. After requesting a refund, the hospital calculated expenses for the two procedures at their regular price and refunded the remainder.
B, a re-examine student residing in Suyeong District, recently visited another dermatology clinic, where he received an estimate stating that five cosmetic procedures would cost 2.8 million won.
B's parents thought this expense was excessive and advised him to use a regular dermatology clinic that charges 50,000 won for a single procedure.
C, a 3rd-year high school student residing in Dongnae District, recently sought vision correction at well-known ophthalmology clinics in Busanjin District and Haeundae District, which were offering discount events for exam-takers. This ophthalmology clinic advised C that lens implantation surgery, costing in the range of 5 million won, would be the best option.
C seriously considered the lens implantation procedure after being told by medical staff that the Lasik or Lasek procedures, costing 2 to 3 million won, could have side effects. However, she received a diagnosis from another ophthalmology clinic indicating that her vision could be sufficiently corrected with Lasik.
D, also a 3rd-year student living in Haeundae District, recently received a diagnosis at two well-known ophthalmology clinics in Busan that there were no alternatives other than lens implantation surgery, estimated to cost around 5 million won.
However, at another ophthalmology clinic in Busanjin District, he was diagnosed that vision could be corrected with Lasek.
A representative from the Korea Consumer Agency noted, “Every year, numerous cases of overcharging utilizing exam-taker discounts are received,” and emphasized that it is necessary to thoroughly examine whether the proposal is reasonable.