"I Got My Tuition Refund Back"... Seoul City Helps Citizens Protect Their Rights

Consultation Available in Seven Areas Including Commercial Leasing and Lending Businesses

Support for New Types of Disputes Such as International Shipping Fees for Overseas Purchases

Guidance Provided on Documentation and Follow-up Procedures Including Dispute Resolution

Mr. A, who prepaid for an educational course to obtain a certification, was unable to receive a refund of the remaining tuition fee of 1.6 million won after discontinuing the course and was about to give up on the refund. However, after receiving counseling at the Seoul Livelihood Economy Protection Center, he was guided on the possibility of a refund and the necessary procedures. Through negotiations with the company, he was able to receive a full refund of the remaining tuition fee.

Since April, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been operating the Livelihood Economy Protection Center, an expanded and reorganized version of the Comprehensive Fair Trade Counseling Center, to help citizens seek redress for their rights. The types of damages affecting citizens' daily lives are becoming more diverse, and the system is designed for those who are not aware of how to respond.

The Livelihood Economy Protection Center provides counseling in seven areas: commercial lease, consumer, franchise and distribution, culture and arts, lending businesses, multi-level marketing, and prepaid installment transactions. In addition, by strengthening its functions for responding to new and unexpected types of economic damage and for consumer rights protection, the center supports citizens in resolving their actual problems.

Recently, the center has consistently received reports and requests for counseling on consumer damages closely linked to citizens’ daily lives, such as disputes over refunds and contract terminations, as well as damages from online transactions. For example, when a consumer who made a purchase through an overseas shopping proxy requests a refund but is asked by the seller to bear excessive international shipping costs, it is essential to carefully check whether the shipping fee was notified in advance, the actual costs incurred, and whether withdrawal from the contract is possible. For such disputes, the center provides guidance on documents and procedures that consumers need to verify, such as contract terms, notifications, and payment/delivery records, helping them independently confirm and protect their rights.

Depending on the nature of the inquiry, the center also offers specialized counseling in collaboration with legal advisors. These legal advisors provide advice in the fields of law, labor, and taxation, and guide citizens through litigation and dispute resolution procedures, response strategies, and major legal issues, empowering them to exercise their rights more proactively.

The Livelihood Economy Protection Center also operates support programs for small claims e-litigation in the consumer sector and for crime victims among young people. Citizens who have suffered small-scale damages through online transactions or subscription services can utilize the 'Consumer Rights Guide' posted on the center's website and receive one-on-one counseling from legal advisors. Furthermore, for young people who have fallen victim to crimes such as voice phishing, smishing, or cyber fraud, the center provides information on reporting procedures, connects them to psychological recovery and financial support programs.

Lee Hae-seon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Livelihood Economy Bureau, stated, "The Livelihood Economy Protection Center is a counseling channel closely connected to daily life, designed to ensure that citizens do not have to resolve economic damages and disputes on their own." He added, "We will further strengthen practical support, from counseling to rights protection, so that citizens do not suffer losses or give up due to a lack of awareness about their rights."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.