Republic of Korea: Announced investigation into AliExpress for alleged consumer protection violations

On 22 May 2024, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced an investigation into AliExpress, focusing on allegations that the e-commerce platform has not been displaying the necessary merchant information, potentially violating the Electronic Commerce Consumer Protection Act. The investigation was opened following reports by JTBC and Yonhap News Agency highlighting concerns over the lack of transparency regarding seller details on AliExpress's platform. The KFTC has indicated that sanctions, including corrective orders and possibly a business suspension order, could be imposed if AliExpress is found to be in violation of the law.