Republic of Korea: Fair Trade Commission issued ruling in investigation into Nol Universe over abuse of bargaining position in accommodation advertising

On 12 August 2025, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) issued a ruling against Nol Universe with a fine of KRW 540 million and issued corrective and notification orders for abusing its superior bargaining position in the online accommodation booking market. The ruling highlighted that the company bundled discount coupons into its “Nearby Coupon” products, charging small lodging partners through advertising fees but extinguishing unused coupons at the end of each contract period, with only a single rollover allowed. It was highlighted that this practice caused financial losses for partners and was deemed unfair.