The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) urged consumers planning trips to Jeju this summer vacation season to be cautious about issues related to air travel, accommodations, and rental cars on the 10th.
According to the KCA, there were 422 applications for compensation related to air travel, accommodations, and rental cars in Jeju in 2022, 475 in 2023, and 626 last year, totaling 1,523 applications over the past three years. By category, there were 739 related to air travel, 420 to accommodations, and 364 to rental cars.
By month, the highest number of reports was in August (233 applications), which is when summer vacations peak, followed by September (158) and October (135).
Among air travel related compensation applications, issues with 'cancellation penalties' accounted for the largest share at 53.7% (397 cases). 'Flight delays or cancellations' accounted for 19.8% (146 cases), and 'damaged or lost luggage' followed at 6.8% (50 cases). Refundable promotional tickets and tickets nearing expiration can limit refunds or cancellations, leading to many consumer dispute cases.
For accommodations, cases involving 'cancellation penalties' made up the majority at 71.7% (301 cases). 'Dissatisfaction with facilities' represented 11.7% (49 cases). Disputes over cancellation penalties often arise when businesses set excessive penalties during peak season or when certain online travel agencies refuse refunds based on terms previously disclosed. In particular, due to unique regional characteristics in Jeju, there are many instances where refunds are denied because a reservation date is nearing, despite cancellations caused by weather issues like strong winds that result in flight cancellations.
The consumer dispute resolution guidelines state that if a reservation cannot be honored due to climate change or natural disasters, the deposit should be refunded if the contract is canceled on the day of use.
For rental cars, disputes over 'cancellation penalties' were the most common, making up 38.2% (139 cases). 'Accident handling disputes' followed at 32.2% (117 cases). The consumer dispute resolution guidelines and standard car rental terms stipulate that if a cancellation is made 24 hours prior to the start of use, the full deposit should be refunded.
The KCA advised, 'Before signing contracts for air tickets, accommodations, or rental cars, be sure to check the cancellation penalties, and be cautious about promotional products with non-refundable conditions, as they may be difficult to recover.'