Republic of Korea: Fair Trade Commission opened consultation on proposed consent order pertaining to Kakao over alleged unfair trade practices

On 11 March 2025, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) opened a public consultation on a proposed consent order regarding Kakao's alleged violations of the Large-scale Distribution Business Act, until 9 April 2025. The order applies to Kakao’s e-commerce platform, Kakao Gift, and addresses concerns over suppliers' lack of choice in shipping methods, delayed contract documentation, and unjustified product returns. The proposed measures would grant suppliers greater flexibility in setting shipping fees separately from product prices and mandate fair trade compliance training for Kakao staff. It also introduces fee reductions and marketing support worth at least KRW 9.2 billion.