"TIMF Incident, Calls for Relief for Affected Tenant Companies... Appeal for Countermeasures"

Press Conference Urging Measures for Damage Cases of Tenant Companies
Small Business Owners: "Damage Status and Relief Efforts Both Unclear"

Vendors affected by the TMON and WEMAKEPRICE incidents, along with industry insiders, gathered to collectively urge for measures to remedy the damages.

As the delay in seller settlements by TMON and WEMAKEPRICE causes increasing harm to consumers, purchasing customers are visiting WEMAKEPRICE headquarters in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 25th to submit refund requests. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

On the 29th, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) held a press conference titled "Presentation of Damage Cases by Vendors Affected by the TMON and WEMAKEPRICE Incidents and Call for Countermeasures" at the Neutinamu Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The event was co-hosted by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business Owners, the Korea Direct Selling Association, and the Online Platform User Complaint Reporting Center.

On the day, Yang Chang-young, head of the Livelihood Hope Headquarters at PSPD, stated, "The TMON and WEMAKEPRICE incidents are escalating uncontrollably," adding, "Consumer damage reports filed through the Korea Consumer Agency have already exceeded 4,000 cases, and on-site refunds that continued through the weekend have now been halted." He pointed out, "With TMON and WEMAKEPRICE reportedly in a state of capital erosion, it is uncertain whether consumers will be properly compensated even if collective disputes and civil lawsuits follow."

He continued, "Civil society organizations also considered whether to accept applications for consumer dispute mediation, but to reduce confusion among victims, we decided to centralize the process through the Korea Consumer Agency. However, if there are shortcomings in the consumer agency’s dispute mediation process, we will collaborate with consumer groups to take further actions such as additional dispute mediation," he said.

Vendors participating in the press conference who were affected by TMON and WEMAKEPRICE appealed that while some consumers have received partial compensation, the damage status of vendors has not even been identified. They also expressed criticism toward the government’s announcement earlier that day to inject 560 billion KRW in emergency management stabilization funds.

Bang Ki-hong, president of the National Stationery Store Revival Association, who suffered damages while supplying stationery, said, "The on-site refund measures by TMON and WEMAKEPRICE, the government’s response, and media attention have mainly focused on consumer damages," adding, "The compensation for vendors is very uncertain." He further stated, "Although the government announced countermeasures today, this only means asking small business owners, who are already buried in debt, to extend their lives with more debt," and urged, "A more fundamental solution must be prepared."