Consumer Complaints surge in South Korea: Winter Apparel, Online services Top the List
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A meaningful increase in consumer complaints was reported in South Korea last month, with issues related to winter clothing and online services leading the surge, according to data released today by the Korea Consumer Agency. A total of 51,630 consumer consultations were received in November, marking a ample rise in reported problems.
Winter Wardrobe Woes and Digital Discontent
The most dramatic increase in complaints centered around jumpers and jackets, rising by 132.8% compared to the previous month. Consumers frequently reported issues with quality, specifically hair loss and color transfer in newly purchased items. Following closely behind were complaints regarding internet-based services, which jumped 112.6%, and mobile game services, up 80.3%.
A key driver of dissatisfaction with online services was the failure of goal achievement apps to return deposits following the bankruptcy of business operators. In the mobile gaming sector, consumers reported losing value in games due to software bugs.
Persistent Problems: Flights, Phones, and Fitness
For the third consecutive month, air passenger transport services topped the list of overall complaints, with 1,192 cases reported in November – consistent with figures from September and October. The primary concern remained excessive flight cancellation fees.
Other frequently cited issues included mobile phones/smartphones (1,134 cases) and gym memberships (1,110 cases).
Age-Based Trends Reveal Consumer Vulnerabilities
The data also revealed distinct patterns in complaints based on age demographics. Consumers in their 20s were most likely to seek assistance with mobile phones and smartphones, while those in their 30s frequently contacted the agency regarding gym memberships. Individuals in their 40s reported issues with clothing and textiles, those in their 50s and 60s with credit cards, and those 70 and older with agarwood and other health foods.
Year-Over-Year Increases Signal Emerging Concerns
Compared to November of the previous year, complaints related to delivery food saw a substantial increase of 124.5%. Consumers often requested refunds due to the presence of foreign substances in their meals. Complaints about mobile phones and smartphones also rose significantly, increasing by 105.8%, largely due to delivery delays and lack of contact from sellers of used devices.
Why the surge? Consumer complaints in South Korea significantly increased in November, driven by issues with winter apparel quality, failures in online services (especially goal achievement apps and mobile games), and ongoing problems with flights, phones, and gym memberships.
Who is affected? All age groups are experiencing issues, but specific demographics are more prone to certain complaints. Those in their 20s struggle with mobile phones, 30s with gym memberships, 40s with clothing, 50s/60s with credit cards, and those 70+ with health foods.
What are the key issues? Quality problems with winter clothing (hair loss, color transfer), bankruptcy of online service providers leading to lost deposits, software bugs in mobile games, excessive flight cancellation fees, delivery issues with phones, and foreign substances found in delivery food are the primary concerns.
How did it end? The Korea Consumer Agency released the data on December 26th,highlighting the need for increased consumer vigilance
