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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Prime Minister Han Sung-sook vows to introduce class actions across all consumer sectors

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Approved/passed
  • Prime Minister Han Sung-sook said South Korea will introduce consumer class-action lawsuits across all sectors under its new consumer policy plan.
  • The plan would allow courts to order businesses to submit documents in major consumer harm cases and expand measures for consumer data rights, AI-based market monitoring and accessible kiosks.
  • The Consumer Policy Committee approved the seventh basic consumer policy plan, which also includes stronger product and food safety controls and support for reusable containers.

South Korea plans to introduce consumer class actions across all sectors, Prime Minister Han Sung-sook said at a Consumer Policy Committee meeting in Seoul.

Han presented the government’s seventh basic consumer policy plan as a blueprint for stronger consumer rights. She said the government would build a comprehensive protection system without blind spots and create a system allowing courts to order businesses to submit documents when large-scale consumer harm occurs. That measure, she said, would make meaningful recovery possible for affected consumers.

I will introduce a class-action lawsuit system across all consumer sectors.

· Han Sung-sookThe prime minister announces the government’s plan to expand consumer class actions beyond securities.

A class action allows a representative consumer to bring a damages lawsuit on behalf of many people who suffered similar harm. If the plaintiffs win, the ruling applies to all affected consumers, allowing others to receive compensation. South Korea currently operates the system only in the securities sector, where it has been in place since 2005.

Han also outlined measures aimed at the AI and digital era. The government plans to build an AI-based market-monitoring system, expand the use of MyData across all sectors to strengthen consumer data sovereignty, and develop user-friendly kiosks so digitally vulnerable groups are not excluded from the benefits of innovation.

We will create a closely connected system that guarantees consumer rights without blind spots.

· Han Sung-sookHan describes the consumer protection goals of the seventh basic consumer policy plan.

The plan also calls for safer and more sustainable transactions in daily life. The government will strengthen safety management for household products, including electrical goods and children’s products, as well as food. It will seek to prevent false or exaggerated eco-friendly claims and support stores in replacing disposable containers with reusable ones.

The Consumer Policy Committee approved the plan at its meeting. The committee coordinates and deliberates on consumer policy and is jointly chaired by the prime minister and a civilian chair. It includes eight relevant ministers, 15 civilian members and the head of the Korea Consumer Agency.

We will build a consumer environment for everyone suited to the age of artificial intelligence and digital technology.

· Han Sung-sookHan outlines the plan’s digital consumer policy objectives.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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