- Chairperson Han Ki-jeong presents Korea's Fair Trade Commission policies and case handling experiences at the first-ever OECD Consumer Ministers' Meeting.
Overview of the OECD Consumer Policy Committee Ministerial Meeting
- Date: October 8 (Tue) – October 9 (Wed), 2024
- Location: OECD Headquarters (Paris, France)
- Hosted by: OECD Consumer Policy Committee
- Theme: "Consumers at the Center of Digital and Green Transition"
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), led by Chairperson Han Ki-jeong, participated in the OECD Consumer Policy Committee Ministerial Meeting, held from October 8 to October 9.
This OECD Consumer Ministers' Meeting is the first of its kind since the establishment of the OECD, with 65 delegations sharing their countries' policies and enforcement cases for "Consumer Protection and Promotion of Rights in Digital and Green Transition." The adoption of the "Consumer Ministers' Declaration" also demonstrated a commitment to joint efforts in consumer protection and rights promotion during this transformative era.
The meeting began with a video welcome address from OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on October 8. He emphasized that consumer spending accounts for about 60% of the GDP of OECD member countries, stating, "Consumers are at the heart of the global economy," and expressed hope that this meeting would strengthen global consumer protection standards at such a critical time of digital and green transition.
Following the welcome address, Chairperson Han spoke on behalf of the co-chairs of the meeting, stating, "This first-ever Consumer Ministers' Meeting by the OECD is a first step toward international cooperation, and I hope it will enhance mutual collaboration and understanding of changes in the consumer environment."
On the afternoon of October 8, during the panel discussion on "Consumer Protection and Rights Promotion in the Digital Transition," Chairperson Han shared Korea's consumer policy and law enforcement experiences. He introduced legislative achievements, including the KFTC's handling of cases related to chance-based items and search ranking manipulation, as well as the amendment of the Electronic Commerce Act to regulate dark patterns.
Additionally, during the discussion on "New Consumer Product Safety Responses in a Rapidly Changing Global Market," Chairperson Han presented the Korean government's efforts. He highlighted that, based on the draft of the OECD product safety pledge, the KFTC signed a voluntary agreement with domestic open market operators in 2021 and expanded this initiative to include domestic second-hand trading platforms and, this year, overseas online platforms. He also explained the KFTC's efforts to address consumer product safety issues arising from cross-border online shopping, including legislative initiatives for consumer information provision through the Consumer 24 portal site and the designation of domestic representatives.
Chairperson Han also delivered closing remarks at the conclusion of the meeting, where the Ministerial Declaration was adopted. He expressed belief that, based on the discussions from this meeting, countries would foster safer, more inclusive, and sustainable markets. He hopes that Korea's experiences and policies shared during this meeting will serve as a compass for many nations undergoing digital transition.
The KFTC stated, "Through sharing our experiences and policies at this OECD Consumer Ministers' Meeting, we have strengthened our status as a major consumer authority globally," and added, "We will continue to actively participate in international discussions, including at the OECD, to ensure there are no gaps in consumer protection amid changing global transaction environments.