Comprehensive Service Providing Prevention, Consultation, and Remedy for Frequent Unfair Damages in 7 Major Areas
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 17th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will expand the operation of the 'Seoul Fair Trade Comprehensive Counseling Center,' which supports consultation and relief for unfair damages in seven major areas frequently occurring in daily life. Seoul plans to strengthen close support and systematic services, diversify consultation methods to simultaneously enhance citizens' perception and convenience, and resume in-person and face-to-face consultations that were suspended due to COVID-19.
The Seoul Fair Trade Comprehensive Counseling Center (formerly the Tear Stop Counseling Center) is an institution that provides one-stop support for consultation and relief in seven major areas prone to damage in so-called gap-jul relationships, including ‘commercial lease,’ ‘franchise and distribution,’ as well as ‘illegal lending’ and ‘multi-level marketing’ which exacerbate difficulties for vulnerable groups, and rights violations in the labor law blind spots such as ‘cultural artists and freelancers.’
The Seoul Fair Trade Comprehensive Counseling Center began operating in 2012 under the name Citizens’ Participation Center for Livelihood Infringement, changed its name to Tear Stop Counseling Center in 2016, expanding its function as a specialized counseling center, and was later reorganized under its current name. Consultations and relief in all areas are provided through one-on-one close support by experts such as lawyers, certified real estate agents, and franchise transaction specialists. Citizens can choose convenient consultation methods including face-to-face, online, telephone, and video calls.
Since consultations at the center are conducted in one place, it has the advantage that citizens suffering damages in multiple areas can receive various consultations with a single visit. According to Seoul, the center recorded a total of 55,404 consultations over the past three years, with commercial lease consultations accounting for the largest number at 46,770. Notably, compared to 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of consultations in franchise and distribution, cultural arts, prepaid installment sales (funeral services), and consumer sectors increased in 2021, while consultations in commercial lease, lending, and multi-level marketing sectors decreased or stagnated.
Seoul has judged that unexpected damages may occur during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, changes in consumption and labor trends, and the lifting of social distancing measures amid economic recovery. Therefore, it plans to strengthen support by diversifying consultation methods, establishing and operating a systematic relief system, and expanding the operation of dispute mediation committees.
Currently, the center not only provides damage consultation and relief support but also conducts post-management activities such as unfair damage prevention and investigations. In cases of illegal activities, upon the request of complainants, the center exercises legal authority granted to Seoul to investigate and manage companies, and strives to minimize damages through dispute mediation committees that facilitate settlements. Furthermore, in cases of severe damage in lending and multi-level marketing, the center responds with strong measures such as referring cases to the Seoul Civil Judicial Police Unit or the National Police Agency for investigation and filing complaints.
Han Young-hee, Seoul’s Labor, Fair Trade, and Coexistence Policy Officer, said, “The Seoul Fair Trade Comprehensive Counseling Center is a citizen-oriented service institution that provides one-stop support from prevention to damage consultation and relief for unfair damages that citizens frequently encounter in daily life.” She added, “This year, we will strengthen overall services from prevention to consultation, relief, and post-management to expand support that citizens can immediately feel.”
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