The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has implemented revised consumer dispute resolution standards regarding restaurant no-shows and wedding venue cancellations. The revisions aim to reflect changes in consumer behavior and clarify dispute resolution criteria for various sectors including lodging and travel.
Restaurants that require advance reservations, such as omakase or fine dining establishments, are now classified as ‘reservation-based restaurants.’ The maximum cancellation fee for no-shows at these venues is capped at 40% of the total cost, while general restaurants are limited to 20%. Bulk or group reservations may also apply the reservation-based restaurant criteria if properly disclosed in advance.
For wedding venue cancellations due to consumer reasons, cancellation fees are tiered: 40% of total cost if canceled 29–10 days prior, 50% for 9–1 days prior, and 70% on the day of the event. If canceled due to business reasons after 29 days prior, the cancellation fee is set at 70%. Additionally, contract-related expenses may be claimed under certain conditions even during free cancellation periods.
In the lodging industry, free cancellation is now allowed on the day of reservation if natural disasters or other events prevent accommodation use. This also applies if such events occur along the route from the departure point to the accommodation. For overseas travel, free cancellation now specifically applies when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues travel advisories at level 3 (advisory against departure) or level 4 (travel ban). Standards for resolving disputes in emerging sectors such as study cafes have also been newly established.