Consumer Inquiries About Accommodation Facilities Increase 1.8 Times This Summer Vacation Season

Increase in Overseas Travel and Credit Card Consultations

During this summer vacation peak season, consumer complaints and consultations related to accommodation facilities increased by about 1.8 times.

The Korea Consumer Agency and the Korea Consumer Organization Council announced on the 27th that consultations related to accommodation facilities received by the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center last month totaled 2,411 cases, an 83.5% increase compared to the previous month (1,314 cases). This figure also represents a 21.71% increase compared to the same period last year (1,981 cases). By category, hotels and pensions saw a 96.4% increase, and various accommodation facilities showed a 71.2% increase compared to the previous month. The Consumer Agency explained that most of these consultations were complaints arising from demands for excessive cancellation penalties.

The Consumer Agency added that consultations related to overseas travel and credit cards also significantly increased compared to the same period last year. The increase rates were 80.2% for overseas travel and 58.7% for credit cards. In the case of overseas travel, many consultations involved companies demanding excessive penalties upon contract termination, while credit card consultations often involved random smishing scams impersonating credit card companies from overseas numbers.

Meanwhile, the total number of consultations received by the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center last month was 46,084 cases, a 4.1% increase from the previous month (44,261 cases). Among these, consultations related to health clubs were the highest at 1,316 cases. The Consumer Agency reported that many of these consultations involved demands for excessive cancellation penalties or refusal of refunds upon early termination of health club contracts.