Consumer Complaints About Overseas Deals Soar in 2018

South Koreans’ complaints about cross-border transactions spiked more than 40 percent in 2018 due to brisk overseas travel and direct purchases from foreign countries, a state consumer protection agency said Friday. The number of complaints about overseas direct purchases and foreign travel services came to 22,169 cases last year, up 41.3 percent from the prior year, according to the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA).

Complaints about purchases and delivery agents were the largest at 11,675, or 52.7 percent of the total, followed by overseas direct purchases with 8,740 (39.4 percent). By product, clothing and footwear accounted for the largest portion of the total at 24.8 percent, trailed by air tickets and flight service with 19.6 percent, and lodging with 19.5 percent.

In particular, the number of complaints against lodging shoot up nearly 71 percent in 2018 from the previous year. Slightly over 40 percent of the complaints were related to delays in or rejections of cancellations, refunds and exchanges. Contract breaches, including delayed deliveries, came next with 18.5 percent. The KCA advised South Korean consumers to closely check sellers’ information and terms to prevent damage from international transactions.

Source: The Korea Bizwire 2019.3.29. Press Release