Flight Cancellation Fee Alone Reaches KRW 770,000...Consumer Damage Alert Issued Ahead of Chuseok

[Financial News] The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) and the Fair Trade Commission issued a consumer damage alert ahead of the Chuseok holiday as consumer complaints related to air travel services continue to rise. Particular caution is advised because disputes over the cancellation of tickets purchased through global online travel agencies (OTAs) are occurring frequently.
According to the KCA and the Fair Trade Commission on the 14th, a total of 7,438 applications for remedies related to air travel services were filed over the past three years (2023–2025). The figure rose from 1,705 cases in 2023 to 2,532 in 2024 and 3,201 last year, representing an average annual growth rate of 37.0%. This increase was steeper than the 14.1% average annual growth rate in the number of overseas travelers during the same period.
Contract cancellation-related cases—including refusals to cancel, terminate, or withdraw from contracts and excessive cancellation fees—accounted for the largest share of applications at 58.4% (4,341 cases). They were followed by nonperformance of contract, such as flight cancellations and delays, at 27.2% (2,020 cases), and unfair practices at 5.3% (394 cases).
When tickets are purchased through a travel agency or OTA, the airline’s fees may be accompanied by the agency’s own fees for ticket issuance, changes, and refund processing. In one case, a consumer purchased seven round-trip tickets between Incheon and Da Nang for KRW 2.918 million and canceled them five days later, but had to pay a total of KRW 770,000 in combined travel agency and airline cancellation fees.
Complaints related to flight cancellations and delays are also continuing. However, compensation may be difficult when the airline is not at fault, such as in cases involving natural disasters, airport conditions, or aircraft connection-related circumstances. Consumers are therefore advised to check in advance whether they have travel insurance and what it covers.
Consumers should also be cautious about checked-baggage damage. Of the 131 related remedy applications filed last year, bags and suitcases accounted for the largest share, with 98 cases. By type of damage, there were 103 cases of damage, 16 of delay, and 12 of loss.
The KCA and the Fair Trade Commission urged consumers to check cancellation and change fees by seller, as well as entry and exit regulations, before purchasing airline tickets. They also emphasized that if checked baggage is damaged or lost, consumers should immediately report the incident at the airline desk in the airport and obtain a confirmation document.
[email protected] Hyun-ji Kim Reporter