Republic of Korea: Adopted Bill amending Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce Act/Bill no. 2126387)

On 25 January 2024, the Parliament of the Republic of Korea adopted the Bill amending Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce Act/Bill no. 2126387). The Bill aims to improve transparency, consumer safety, and fair trading practices in e-commerce. The Bill establishes obligations for providers such as e-commerce platforms, including obtaining consumer consent for changes in subscription fees or service conversions and prohibiting certain practices in the operation of online interfaces, such as hiding full costs, offering unsolicited options, creating misleading visual distinctions, complicating cancellation procedures, and interfering with free choice through persistent pop-up prompts. The Bill also empowers the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) to seek public information and issue guidelines for business operators. In addition, the Bill outlines corrective measures and specifies that fines of up to KRW 5 million can be imposed for failure to comply with consumer consent and notification requirements and for committing prohibited acts.