Republic of Korea: Bill amending the Consumer Basic Act (Bill No. 16767) was introduced to National Assembly

On 11 February 2026, the Bill amending the Consumer Basic Act (Bill No. 16767) was introduced to the National Assembly. The Bill seeks to improve dispute resolution procedures and consumer protection mechanisms. It replaces the Consumer-Centred Management Certification system with a Consumer-Centred Management Business Designation system and permits designation review bodies to use collected examination fees as operational revenue, subject to approval by the Korea Fair Trade Commission. The Bill introduces exceptions to confidentiality obligations concerning hazard information, allowing the Korea Consumer Agency to share such information with competent central administrative authorities in urgent situations involving imminent and significant risks to consumers’ life, body, or property, and requires the authorities to notify the Agency of the outcome of emergency measures. The Bill establishes a single-member mediation procedure for simplified disputes and creates a legal basis for the Korea Consumer Agency to provide litigation support, including legal representation, where mediation fails or is suspended due to court proceedings. It further requires the Agency to notify applicants of the reasons and duration when extending the processing period for damage relief cases beyond 30 days.