- Reaffirming the need to strengthen policy cooperation between the three countries -
- Discussion on sharing consumer policies, cooperation plans, and consumer market trends -
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) held the 10th Korea-China-Japan Consumer Policy Meeting on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 10 a.m. in the Emerald Hall of Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil, Seoul.
The Korea-China-Japan Consumer Policy Meeting (a director-level meeting body) has been held since 2004, rotating biennially between Korea, China, and Japan, to share consumer policies and strengthen cooperation between the three countries. This 10th meeting, marking its 20th anniversary, was hosted by Korea, following the 7th meeting held at the Sheraton Hotel in Songdo in 2016, after an 8-year gap.
- (7th Meeting) July 2016, Korea (Incheon); (8th Meeting) December 2019, China (Shanghai); (9th Meeting) December 2021, Japan (Online)
In this year's meeting, not only did the consumer policy authorities of the three governments participate, but major consumer-related organizations from each country also attended, leading to a more diverse discussion. In Japan’s case, the head of the National Consumer Affairs Center (a government-affiliated institution akin to Korea's Consumer Agency) personally attended and gave a presentation. Representatives from major consumer organizations in Korea and China also presented on topics such as consumer market trends and collective consumer damage relief systems in each country. Additionally, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), a government organization established in 2011 by the three countries, also attended and delivered congratulatory remarks.
During the opening address, Vice Chairman Jo Hong-seon of the KFTC emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the consumer authorities of the three countries, stating, "In the current consumer environment, which transcends time and space, close cooperation between the consumer authorities of Korea, China, and Japan is essential to protect consumer rights and effectively respond to consumer damages." He expressed hope that this meeting would serve as a valuable opportunity to breathe new life into cooperation among the three countries.
During the meeting, the three countries discussed the following topics: ① sharing consumer policies and cooperation plans, ② consumer market trends and cross-border cooperation, and ③ the status and development of collective consumer damage relief systems. Notably, the first agenda item, the sharing of consumer policies and cooperation plans, saw direct participation from director-level officials from each country.
Park Se-min, Director of the Consumer Policy Bureau at the KFTC, explained the agency's achievements, including addressing legislative gaps related to online dark patterns through amendments to the Electronic Commerce Act and blocking hazardous products through voluntary safety agreements with major domestic and international online platform operators. He also stated that the KFTC would continue to strengthen its policy efforts to protect consumers in the digital transaction environment, build a foundation for consumer safety, and ensure seamless damage prevention and relief in everyday life sectors.
In the second session, participants discussed various consumer issues arising from the increasing use of e-commerce platforms and explored cooperation measures to resolve cross-border consumer damage. The third session focused on developing collective consumer damage relief systems, such as class dispute mediation and consumer group lawsuits, to provide effective relief for multiple consumers affected by the same issue.
Through this meeting, the KFTC expects to enhance mutual understanding with the Japanese and Chinese governments and establish a foundation for closer cooperation on cross-border consumer issues in Northeast Asia. The KFTC plans to continue regular communication with Japan and China to address key consumer policy issues.