"Young Women, Never Follow Them" Repeated Forced Sales Tactics Near Gangnam Station

Forced Sales of Skincare Services Targeting Young Women
"Me Too": Victim Stories Flood Social Media

Cases of so-called forced sales of skincare services, in which young women are lured with "free skincare coupons" near Gangnam Station in Seoul and then pressured into making expensive payments, have been occurring in succession. Online, warnings such as "Just ignore them and walk away" are being shared along with actual accounts of victims' experiences.

An entire building in Gangnam-gu is occupied by a plastic surgery clinic. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article.

Recently, on social networking services (SNS) such as X (formerly Twitter), posts have been circulating advising young women who have just become adults or moved to Seoul, "If someone near Gangnam Station asks if you want to try a free skincare treatment, just ignore them and walk away."

One X user commented, "They'll try to entice you by saying it's 'just for students' or 'a special offer for the grand opening,' but in the end, they'll make you pay for everything." The user added, "They'll quickly take you to a consultation room, and it's very easy for those who have just become adults and aren't used to the ways of the world or aren't good at refusing to fall victim." The user continued, "The persuasive skills of the friendly middle-aged women are no joke. If you hesitate, you'll find yourself in a consultation room. If you have a shy personality and aren't good at saying no, you'll feel like you have no choice but to pay."

Other netizens also reported similar experiences. One person said, "This method has been around for a while, but these days it feels like there are more cases where they actually drag you in." Another commented, "It's never the victim's fault," but added, "Since the world has become harsher, we need to protect ourselves more firmly."

There have also been testimonies from those who suffered actual harm. One netizen said, "When I came to my senses, I was sitting in a dermatology consultation room. I managed to avoid payment by insisting I had no money and would come back with my mother tomorrow, but in the end, they resorted to personal attacks and insults about my appearance."

This kind of forced skincare service sale usually takes place around Gangnam Station, with middle-aged women approaching young women. The solicitors start by saying, "You can get a free skincare treatment," and if the target does not firmly refuse, they often grab their arm or encourage them to accompany them to a nearby dermatology clinic. During the consultation, the clinic staff may recommend adding extra costs to the free coupon for better procedures, or after a trial session, they may pressure the person to make a prepayment for a skincare program costing several million won.

However, if there is no physical assault or threat involved, it is difficult to recognize this as coercion under criminal law. For coercion to be established, there must be a threat that is sufficient to cause fear in the other person, beyond mere pressure or discomfort.

According to current law, it is possible to get a refund even if you have purchased skincare services or cosmetics. For skincare services, you can request early termination at any time during the contract period, subject to a penalty fee. If you purchased physical products such as cosmetics, you can get a refund only if they are unopened and unused. If you purchased through door-to-door sales, you can cancel the contract within 14 days of purchase; for online purchases, you can withdraw within 7 days.