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KCSC Fines KT 640 Million Won for Deceptive Galaxy S25 Pre-Sale Practices
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Economy & Trade

KCSC Fines KT 640 Million Won for Deceptive Galaxy S25 Pre-Sale Practices

From Dong-A Ilbo · (1h ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) has fined KT Corporation 640 million won for misleading customers during a Galaxy S25 pre-sale event.
  • KT failed to clearly state that promotional benefits were limited to the first 1,000 pre-orders, leading to the cancellation of 7,127 contracts.
  • The KCSC emphasized its commitment to thoroughly inspecting and preventing deceptive practices in telecommunications services.

KT Corporation has faced a significant penalty from the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) for its deceptive practices during the Galaxy S25 pre-sale. The telecommunications giant has been ordered to pay a hefty 640 million won in fines for failing to properly inform customers that special benefits were limited to the first 1,000 pre-orders.

This ruling highlights a critical issue of consumer trust. Many customers, like those who found out "there was no mention of first-come, first-served," were understandably upset when their pre-orders were unilaterally canceled. The KCSC rightly identified this as a violation of the Telecommunications Business Act, specifically citing the false notification of crucial contract details.

We will thoroughly inspect and prevent acts that harm users' interests, such as false or omitted important information when subscribing to telecommunications services.

โ€” Kim Jong-cheol, KCSC ChairmanThe KCSC Chairman emphasized the commission's commitment to protecting consumers from deceptive practices.

From our perspective at Dong-A Ilbo, this isn't just about a single incident; it's about upholding fair practices in a market where consumers rely on accurate information. The KCSC's stern warning and commitment to stricter oversight are crucial steps in ensuring that companies like KT prioritize transparency and customer rights. This decision sends a clear message that misleading consumers for commercial gain will not be tolerated, and we expect rigorous adherence to these standards moving forward.

There was no mention of first-come, first-served?

โ€” CustomerA customer's reaction to the unilateral cancellation of their pre-order due to unstated limitations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.