The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) recently announced on the 21st that as the number of users of fashion platforms increases, the number of consumer damage relief applications related to these platforms is also rising.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA), a tally of damage relief applications received related to four fashion platforms—W Concept Korea, Musinsa, ably, and Kakao Style—showed a total of 1,650 cases from 2022 to June this year.
Looking at the number of cases by year, it rose from 278 cases in 2022 to 443 cases in 2023, an increase of 59.4%, and last year saw 592 cases, marking another rise of 33.6%. In the first half of this year, 337 cases were reported, up 30.6% compared to the same period last year (258 cases).
By age group, those in their 20s and 30s accounted for about 80% of all applicants, indicating a concentration of damage cases among younger consumers.
By platform, ably accounted for the most cases at 560 (33.9%), followed by Musinsa with 478 (29.0%) and Kakao Style with 415 (25.2%).
Among the reasons for applications, complaints related to 'contract withdrawal' accounted for 799 cases (48.4%), nearly half. This was followed by 569 cases concerning product 'quality' and 127 cases of 'contract non-fulfillment.'
In actual cases, one consumer requested a return on the same day of purchasing clothing but was denied due to the item being on sale, while another consumer inquired about a return due to garment defects but was asked to cover the return shipping cost by the seller, who cited 'vintage characteristics'.
By business entity, ably and Kakao Style received many complaints related to contract withdrawals, while Musinsa and W Concept Korea had relatively high complaints regarding quality.
The agency recommends that when using fashion platforms and online shopping malls, individuals should verify transaction terms, utilize credit card payments, and keep proof documents. It also emphasized checking for damages carefully after receiving products and being cautious of product damage during the return process.