Prime Minister Kim Warns About 'Seudeume' Hurting Soon-to-be Married Couples: "Unfair Practices Persist"

The 15th Consumer Policy Committee
Prime Minister Kim Minseok Stresses Enhancing Consumer Rights
Calls for Stronger Measures Against Unfair Practices and Algorithmic Bias
Plans Institutional Improvements for Safer Everyday Consumption

Prime Minister Kim Minseok emphasized the importance of enhancing consumer rights on September 2, stating, "If we fail to secure trust from consumers, both the recovery of domestic demand and the improvement of corporate competitiveness will be nothing more than a house built on sand."

Prime Minister Kim Minseok is speaking at the 15th Consumer Policy Committee held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on September 2, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News

On this afternoon, Prime Minister Kim presided over the first Consumer Policy Committee since the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration at the Government Seoul Office. He remarked, "Although there have been various innovations recently, many voices still say that the actual rights enjoyed by consumers remain restricted." He specifically pointed out the so-called "Seudeume" (studio photography, dress reservations, and makeup), highlighting, "Unfair practices persist in areas of information asymmetry, such as the opaque pricing of Seudeume services." Prime Minister Kim also noted, "While digital economies such as online platforms and e-commerce offer convenience in consumer life, new types of consumer damages are emerging, such as algorithmic bias." He urged, "All relevant ministries must strengthen monitoring of factors that infringe on consumer rights and thoroughly improve related systems."

In addition, Prime Minister Kim stated, "To enhance consumer rights in areas closely related to daily life, we plan to discuss institutional improvements to ensure safe consumption in everyday life. This includes strengthening safety standards for playground flooring, improving labeling standards for clothes dryers and decaffeinated coffee, and expanding protective devices at electric vehicle charging facilities." He added, "Since 7 out of 10 people in the country make purchases through e-commerce, we must also meticulously prepare consumer protection measures in the field of e-commerce."