Republic of Korea: Adopted Enforcement Decree on Amendments to Basic Consumer Act

On 23 July 2024, the National Cabinet adopted the Enforcement Decree on Amendments to the Basic Consumer Act. The Decree specifies the subjects and methods of investigations needed to promote consumer rights and enhance policy implementation, including provisions for online dispute mediation meetings. Following the adoption of the Amendment of the Basic Consumer Act in February 2024, the Decree clarifies the scope of investigations, covering transactions, prices, labelling, advertising, and consumer damages. It also requires the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to prepare an investigation plan before conducting their surveys, to which the FTC was empowered by the Amendments of the Basic Consumer Act. Moreover, the Decree now allows the Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee to conduct meetings via remote video conferencing, addressing previous limitations that required in-person meetings for prompt case resolution.